A Somerset MP has told anti-dairy campaigners they are wasting their time in trying to stop the nation drinking proper milk.

Ian Liddell-Grainger says they should accept the fact than 96 per cent of the British people are entirely happy consuming dairy milk - and have every intention of continuing to do so.

And he says they are as likely to switch to vegan alternatives as they are to start eating coal.

Anti-dairy campaigns have been stepped up to coincide with the political conference season.

But Mr Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, said most people would have been disgusted to see campaigners pouring milk away as a protest.

“They would have looked on it, as I did, as an insult to hard-working dairy farmers and a criminally irresponsible act - though one that provided a pretty accurate measure of the mentality of these campaigners,” he said.

Last week industry body Dairy UK assembled leading scientists to stress the importance of including dairy milk in a balanced diet - and in particular the need for children to be given it for good dental and bone health.

But, said Mr Liddell-Grainger: “Despite sound scientific evidence that giving children inferior plant-based milk substitutes leaves them open to stunted growth and early-onset osteoporosis we still have people telling us it is acceptable to drink stuff made from almonds or oats.

“These are nutritionally inferior and it has been shown that one would need to east vast quantities of fruit, pulses and vegetables to derive the same nutritional benefit as is offered by a pint of milk.

“If these campaigners want to drink fifth-rate milk substitutes that’s fine. What is not fine is that they force their children to consume them too.

“And they should save their breath rather than wasting it trying to change the nation’s dietary habits. They need to accept that the huge majority of people in this country realise the benefits of drinking real milk and are entirely happy to continue doing so.”