SHEEP farmers are to get a boost from Brussels to help cope with plunging prices.

Support payments for sheepmeat will be increased by as much as 60% to compensate for falling returns.

The payment for heavy lambs has been set at just over #18 an animal and the light lamb payment will rise to #14.

If market prices improve in the course of this year the payments could be revised but in the meantime an advance worth 30% of the total

payment will be paid.

Hill farmers in Less Favoured Areas will get higher special payments worth an additional #4.60 for heavy lambs and #4.14 for light lambs.