Action call after diesel raid death

Rosemary Dove, 68, collapsed in her farmhouse shortly after dialling 999 when disturbing diesel raiders on Sunday.

Her son, James Michael Dove, known as Michael, was also injured when he tried to confront the intruders on the farmland in Bishop Middleham, County Durham.

Mrs Dove and her husband William Frank Dove, known as Frank, were returning to their home at East House Farm shortly from a trip to an agricultural show in Scotland.

Farmers' leaders said there had been a sharp increase in the theft of low tax red diesel - used for tractors and other agricultural machinery - from farms because of the big rise in forecourt prices.

Northumberland farmer Richard Dodd, the North East director of the Countryside Alliance, said the theft of red diesel had been rising at an "alarming level" over the last six months.

"Diesel fuel has a value far more than it ever used to. It was 11p a litre three years ago - now it's 70p," Mr Dodd said.

"The trend probably started up six months ago. The criminals have come out and found rich pickings in the countryside. These gangs realise this is a commodity and they can also sell it readily. Because the price of diesel elsewhere is so expensive they'll probably always be able to find a market with someone trying to cut costs. "

NFU Mutual, the leading provider of insurance to rural enterprises, also warned that high fuel prices have triggered a wave of thefts of red diesel.

Spokesman Tim Price said NFU Mutual had seen a 20% increase in the number of insurance claims for red diesel this year.