Farmers' race for £233m funding like 'scramble for Oasis tickets'

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Many farmers rely on government payments to manage their land in more environmentally-friendly ways

Thousands of farmers missed out on vital government funding after online applications for a £233m green scheme for the whole of England closed down in under six hours.

Farming and environmental groups condemned the race to secure the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) funding, with some comparing it to a "frantic" online scramble to secure Glastonbury or Oasis gig tickets.

The post-Brexit scheme, which replaced EU subsidies with payments for farmers to look after nature and provide "public goods", opened at 10:00 BST on Tuesday but had run out of budget by 15:48 BST.

The government said farmers had responded "in force" to the scheme and there would be further funding opportunities for 2027.