A GROUP of farmers fighting the Government's decision not to hold a public inquiry into the foot-and-mouth crisis have dropped their case.

The farmers and landowners, including Peter Jackson from a village near Whitby, North Yorkshire, announced yesterday that they would not be taking their case through the courts.

They failed to raise enough funds to meet yesterday's deadline to appeal against a High Court ruling refusing a judicial review of the Government's decision not to look into the crisis.

Tim Russ, who led a legal team representing eight farmers who suffered during the outbreak, said they were disappointed at the news.

"They felt the decision of the court when we first had the case run through was very harsh, and that if the courts are not going to help them, then no one is.''

Mr Russ, of Clarke Willmott and Clarke, Somerset, said only about £5,000 of the £100,000 needed had been raised, and it had been decided not to proceed.

However, Mr Russ, whose clients came from Lancashire, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Wales and Devon, said it did not mean no challenge could ever be made.

''Clearly we have got to wait and see what the Anderson inquiry does and if they are coming up with answers that are lacking any pith, clearly I would have to look at whether it was a proper review of the Government's actions."