A SECOND farmer has pulled out of genetically modified (GM) farm trials.

The farmer, whose identity has not been disclosed, had earmarked four hectares of land at East Holme, near Wareham, for the trial.

His decision comes after farmer Joe Coleman, from Tincleton, withdrew from the controversial trials after pressure from campaigners.

He said intimidation had forced him to pull out of the trials.

However, he said he still believed in the potential benefits of GM technology and vowed to support other farmers taking part in the trials.

The latest landowner to withdraw was due to grow maize which has been genetically modified to be resitant to the herbicide glufosinate.

The news that he was scrapping plans to take part in the trail was welcomed by local anti-GM campaigners.

A spokesman for Friends of the Earth, said: "We are absolutely delighted at this. The maize is not equivalent to normal maize and would not pass today's environmentally approval process.

"The whole thing is a very new science and we don't really know enough about it to have it out there. No one really knows what effect it will have on people."

Julian Little, spokesman for biotechnology company Aventis Crop Science said: "These are Government trials and the farmer in question has decided not to continue with it for personal reasons."

There are still eight trials of GM maize going ahead in the county and in various locations there are GM oil seed rape trials and winter rape seed.

A spokesman for the National Farmers' Union defended farmers' rights to participate in trials and condemned any intimidation that may be occurring.

He said: "It's very unfortunate if people are putting farmers under pressure. These things have to be trialled so we know whether they will work or not.

"At the end of these trials we will know what effect GM crops have on the biosystem."