Bad weather and hail is reported to have hammered Italian crops in the north of the country, with early reports suggesting more than €20 million worth of damage has been caused.
Particularly hard hit were apples and grapes, as well as some vegetables. Around 30,000 tonnes of apples are thought to be affected, with some firms reporting 100 per cent losses.
Damage in grapes is reported to have affected between 60 per cent to 90 per cent of the regions crop.
Growers in other areas of Italy are now reported to be stretching nets across crops to protect against hail.
