STRUGGLING livestock farmers could face huge bills under new anti-pollution measures put forward by the Government.

Already financially hard hit by foot-and-mouth and bluetongue disease, they could face bills for many thousands of pounds for extra slurry storage capacity.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has already asked Prime Minister Gordon Brown to delay the proposed area expansion and changes to the requirements of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) to ease their financial plight.

The NFU's North-East region has also organised a series of members meetings across Yorkshire and the North-East.

Denis Gibb, NFU regional dairy board member, who farms at Ponteland, Northumberland, said the cost of extra slurry storage was the most worrying aspect.

He said: "We could need 22 weeks of storage facilities for cattle and 26 weeks for pigs and poultry. This would mean more than doubling the capacity on my farm - which could cost £50,000."

Frank Chislett, NFU council delegate who farms near Halifax, said hill farmers could have to carry out a risk assessment before spreading on sloping land.

He said: "When you add in the fact spreading is banned following frost or when soils are water-logged, the window of opportunity for getting manures on land is getting shorter and shorter."

The first discussion on the proposals will be during the North-East NFU dairy board meeting at the Black Swan Hotel, Pickering, North Yorkshirenext Thursday, at 7.30pm.

NFU NVZ specialist Mike Payne will attend a meeting at The Vikings Hotel, Goole, on October 18, at 2pm. Other meetings are at Northallerton, Malton, Hunmanby, and Morpeth. Full details are available from the NFU Regional Office on 01904-451-550.