European Union enlargement is "a challenge not a threat" for British farmers, MPs have reported.

But ministers should continue to promote the UK food industries, the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee said.

On May 1 this year the EU took in 10 new member states (NMS), mainly from central and eastern Europe.

There had been fears that large, inefficient agricultural sectors in some of these states would cause problems for both British farmers and the common agricultural policy.

But while some problems were identified, the MPs played down fears of major upheaval.

"Fragmentation of farm structures and lack of capital investment are common problems for farming in central and eastern Europe," said the report.

"These weaknesses may retard some of the NMS from benefiting fully from access to the enlarged EU marketplace for agricultural and food products."

The MPs also warned that "it is vital that enlargement does not lower standards of food safety".

But they continued: "For UK farmers, enlargement represents more of a challenge than a threat."

The committee added that "further assistance should be provided by the government to help promote UK food exports and investments" in the new member states.