A NORTH-East MP has called for more Government action to stop the spread of bovine TB into the region.

Peter Atkinson, the Conservative MP for Hexham, in Northumberland, this week tabled an Early Day Motion saying that further delays in tackling bovine TB would be unacceptable.

The motion said that the Government had failed to use its powers under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and called on the Government to take practical measures to eliminate TB from cattle and wildlife.

Mr Atkinson's motion has been echoed by National Farmers' Union (NFU) officials in the North-East.

Phil Barber, secretary of the NFU in Teesdale, said although there had been no cases of bovine TB in the North-East for many years, it was widespread in some other parts of the country.

He called for more research, increased testing, and testing of animals being moved from TB hotspots.

Mr Barber said: "This is like the early days of foot-and-mouth, the problems continue the more the Government dithers."

Steve Willis, chairman of the regional dairy commodity board, said the industry must take the threat posed by bovine TB seriously and called for the immediate reintroduction of testing on road casualty badgers.

He said: "Importantly, there is no evidence so far that local badger populations are affected, but we must be vigilant."