More than 200 protesters have rallied outside a farm to protest about plans to plant genetically modified crops on the land.

The protest followed Welsh Assembly rural affairs minister Carwyn Jones's announcement on Friday that the Assembly has no power to prevent trials of GM maize at three sites in Wales.

Organic farmers and residents were among the group who gathered outside Castle Cenlas farm in Mathry, Pembrokeshire, west Wales, owned by former Tory MP Tony Marlow.

Two fields on the farm are due to be given over to the GM crop shortly.

The protesters said they are furious because they believe livelihoods could be threatened if crops and livestock become contaminated.

They released a number of helium-filled yellow bio-degradable balloons to support their claim that the wind will carry pollen from the farm on to surrounding countryside.

They alleged that the Welsh Assembly's original decision to keep Wales a  GM-free zone is being overridden by the Labour government.

Last October Assembly Members voted 42-10 against the Seeds (National List of Varieties) Regulations 2000, which have already been approved by  England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Secretary of Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth, Sandra Pellowe, who attended the protest, said: "There's a very strong feeling locally that there's a lack of democracy because the Assembly voted unanimously to make Wales GM-free yet it seems they are virtually powerless to stop this.

"The Government is going over the heads of the Assembly and the Welsh people.

"People are really upset. We thought we were never going to have this problem. Several small farmers have actually been aided by the Government to go organic, but now it seems they won't get their accreditation now."

One farmer who lives just a mile-and-a-half away from Castle Cenlas farm and is in the middle of converting to organic said she and her husband had just received a letter from the Soil Association saying they would have to review their organic status.

Last updated: 19:41 Saturday 28th April 2001