Some supermarkets have been faced with diminishing stocks of broad beans following the flooding of last summer which had a damaging effect on crops.

This, combined with the arrival in the UK of the Bruchid beetle have helped contribute to a poor harvest for many farmers.

Bruchid beetles, believed to have been brought into the UK from the Mediterranean or Africa, destroy crops by boring into seed pods and laying their eggs inside.

When these larvae hatch they then boar out of the bean, ruining their appearance and making them unsuitable for freezing.

Tim Murge, commercial manager of the Processed Vegetable Growers' Association (PVGA), said: "The PVGA has been representing growers for many years and I think there has been a decline in
area over the past few years, the reasons for this being a combination of economic and climatic factors.

"More recently we have had problems we have come across the Bruchid beetle problem which has certainly led to degeneration of production.

"Once the lava has been laid inside the seed pod it is impossible for the bean to be frozen.

"The problems of the flood of last year, combined with Bruchid beetle, only served to compound the misery.

"It is a little early to say how this year's crops will have been effected as the harvesting process has only just started. We should have more of a clearer picture in the next few weeks."

Broad beans are grown in large numbers in areas such as Lincolnshire and East Anglia.

Mr Murge said that research and development work is currently being carried out to investigate ways in which the pest can be controlled in a practical way.

However adult beetles are present for a long period of the crop growth cycle, unlike the pesticides used to kill them.

It is thought that the beetles entered the country in imported seeds where they pupate.

The effect of the poor harvests of last year are still being seen in supermarkets now, with two of the country's five biggest chains admitting to shortages.

A spokeswoman for supermarket chain Waitrose said: "We do
not currently have any frozen broad beans as much of last summer's harvest was affected by flooding.

"However it is broad bean season again and we do have fresh broad beans in all stores, and will have frozen broad beans back in stock in the coming weeks."

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's also confirmed that the bad weather of last year was still having an effect on stocks this summer.

"We have had a little bit of a shortage due to the crops suffering because of the bad weather. I think most people had a similar situation from the UK."

However, both Asda and Morrisons have denied it has faced a shortage of broad beans and a spokeswoman for Tesco said: "It is not something we have noticed and we have not been made aware of any problems."