January saw a 12 per cent rise in the volume of pork sold despite price rises late last year, according to Taylor Nelson Sofres Superpanel research covering the four week period ending 27 January 2008.

On top of the figures for fresh pork, sales of sausages were up by four per cent, bacon was up by nearly seven per cent and sliced cooked meats such as ham rose by four per cent.

BPEX Consumer Marketing Manager Chris Lamb said: "These are magnificent figures and a real boost for the industry.

"Pig farmers have suffered rocketing feed prices and are losing more than £20 for every pig sent to slaughter. A survey was done to gauge consumer reaction to price rises to put the industry back in the black.

"The vast majority of people said they were only too happy to pay a little more and they have now proved it by buying more pork and pork products more often.

"Retail prices rose at the end of last year but so far little, if any, of that extra money has found its way down the supply chain to the producer."