The quintessential British staple could be missing from our summer as farmers warn that strawberry pickers are in short supply.

The falling value of sterling and new restrictions on the number of seasonal labourers allowed to enter Britain means millions of pounds worth of soft fruit and vegetables are likely to be left to rot in fields.

The country's soft-fruit industry is concentrated in East Anglia, Kent, the Midlands and Scotland and the majority of workers come from Poland and other Eastern European countries.

But the harvesting of 50,000 tonnes of strawberries, raspberries and other fruits, which is due to begin within weeks, comes as thousands of workers from Poland and other eastern European countries head back home.

It follows reports of low wages, poor working conditions as well as the Government's immigration policy of reducing the numbers allowed into the country.

The problem could result in supermarkets transporting more fruit from countries such as Holland to make up the difference while retail prices for UK-grown soft fruits could rise significantly.

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