- A stunning image of a field of vividly purple poppies was captured in Northumberland this morning
- The beautiful scene, photographed shortly after dawn, was taken near Belford where poppies are harvested
- Poppy cultivation in the United Kingdom does not need a licence, but one is required for those wishing to extract opium for medicinal products
These fields of striking purple opium poppies resemble the meadows of Afghanistan – but are actually part of the Northumberland countryside.
The vivid coloured flowers are being grown near the town of Belford and are harvested for their seed heads which will be used to manufacture opiates.
But while the poppy fields of Afghanistan are used to produce heroin these flowers will be turned into legal prescription drugs such as morphine and codeine.
Poppies started being grown for medicinal reasons in the UK at the end of 2006 after India increased the price of export on opium latex.
Poppy cultivation in the United Kingdom does not need a licence, but one is required for those wishing to extract opium for medicinal products.
These stunning pictures were taken shortly after dawn this morning.
These stunning pictures of a poppy field in Northumberland were taken shortly after dawn this morning
The poppies could be the meadows of Afghanistan, but is north-east England
The vivid coloured flowers are being grown near the town of Belford and are harvested for their seed heads which will be used to manufacture opiates
Poppy cultivation in the United Kingdom does not need a licence, but one is required for those wishing to extract opium for medicinal products
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