A LIVESTOCK company put the welfare of the country at risk when it failed to comply with foot-and-mouth regulations while transporting animals, a court was told.

George Bruce Anderson, 65, who trades as GB Anderson Limited, of Seven Acres Farm, Haswell Plough, east Durham, has been ordered to pay more than £3,500 after he pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to meet animal health standards.

Employee Brian Rowell, 45, who lives on the farm, was ordered to pay £1,275 after he pleaded guilty to the same charges.

Teesside Magistrates' Court yesterday heard how Rowell took eight cattle from Darlington Mart to Cleveland Meat Abattoir, in Stockton, on September 20, last year.

An inspection of the vehicle by Stockton Borough Council animal health inspector Steven Gale revealed the upper deck, last used that morning to transport 47 lambs, was covered in 2in of faeces.

The vehicle had carried out three journeys that day while the upper deck was in that condition. It came despite the introduction of cleaning controls on September 12 because of a foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey.

Joan Smith, prosecuting on behalf of Stockton council, said: "Brian Rowell accepts what happened, but he decided to take matters into his own hands and went to another farm in Stockton. There were risks to this journey that could have cost the country."

Stuart Graham, for Rowell, said the hose washer at Darlington Mart was not working.

He said: "He thought that he had to clean his vehicle within 24 hours. He has been doing this for an awfully long time and he thought foot-and-mouth had ceased on September 19. He has never had any breaches before."

Simon Catterall, representing the company, said Mr Anderson was the director of the business. He said: "He has decided to give it three months before he thinks about retiring."

Speaking after the hearing, Stockton councillor Steve Nelson said: "The actions of this company, by transporting animals in such filthy conditions, coupled with the complete disregard of Government rules during the foot-and-mouth outbreak, and for the welfare of the animals, could have had serious repercussions by spreading disease and putting the local livestock industry at risk."

A spokeswoman for the National Farmers' Union said it was one of only a handful of incidents nationally relating to last year's outbreak.

Spokesman David Hugill said: "It is up to everybody to abide by the rules. These regulations are put in place for good reason. We all want to avoid the disastrous 2001."

GB Anderson Ltd was fined £2,700 and ordered to pay costs of £906. Rowell, the driver of the vehicle, was fined £810 and ordered to pay costs of £465.