Livestock and tractors will be brought to the city centre of Chester this weekend, on a day of nationwide protests about the 'unfair' tax that farmers say is putting their livelihood and the nation's food security at risk.

On Saturday 25 January, 'Bringing the Farm to the City' will form on Northgate Street, as part of a campaign led by the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

Cheshire farmers will take part in a 'farming day of unity' with other groups across the country.

This comes in response to inheritance tax changes announced in Rachel Reeve's October budget, resulting in farmers facing a 20 per cent levy on combined agricultural and business assets worth more than £1 million.

Chester's event will start at 11am on Town Hall Square, where local farmers will open the conversation to the public, bringing livestock and a tractor to view.

Conservative councillor for the Saughall and Mollington Ward of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Simon Eardley, has expressed his support for the event.

Listing food security and a rich family farming history, he spoke to Chester Nub News about the reasons behind his 'passionate' backing of the nationwide cause.

He said: "Whilst there's this impression that farmers are asset rich, they often don't have cash resources.

"It's an industry that is volatile in that sense, so the implications of this are significant. I think that should be a worry for people.

"We want to show solidarity with farmers; I hope that the event this weekend will reconnect people with farming."

For Cllr Eardley , he believes that for most people, the lines between what we believe about food production and the truth behind it has been blurred.

The event highlights an opportunity to educate people on the UK food system, and the vital role of farmers at the core of it.

He added: "There's a disconnect between what people understand about where food comes from and where it actually comes from.

"I think people just assume they will continue to be able to buy their food from wherever they buy it from.

Inheritance tax changes announced in the October budget will result in farmers facing a 20 per cent levy on combined agricultural and business assets worth more than £1 million (Image via: Simon Eardley)

"That's not where we're at, at the moment. So I guess people don't see it as a direct threat to them at this point.

"But if we lose our family farms across the country then that does have implications for food security. That's a worry; we should have a discussion about that."

When questioned on the importance of the topic for the ordinary person, Simon outlined the potential impact of the hike on food production.

He said: "Tax comes up in conversation and people switch off.

"Inheritance tax is not something you want to think about because it comes as a result of people dying. It's a subject you just sort of push away.

"We've taken a view in the country over time that farming deserves some sort of special status when it comes to inheritance arrangements.

"If you're a multimillionaire, and you've got millions in the bank, well that's a liquid asset: that's money you have available to hand over to the taxman if you get a tax bill on inheritance.

"Farming is different. Money resources are tied up in land, obviously that has value but that is not something you can liquidate easily to pay a tax bill.

"The challenge with this policy is that farmers will need to find that resource somewhere and the only way to do that, realistically, is to sell land.

"Selling land or assets then reduces the viability of the farm. For me, it's not about treating farmers as special cases, it's a bigger argument than that.

"It's about our approach to farming and food security in this country."