FARMERS preparing for the show season face further misery caused by on-going restrictions on the movement of livestock in the wake of foot-and-mouth.

Officials from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), fearful of a flare-up of the disease, is still imposing restrictions on moving animals.

Many in the farming industry say they are tired of going through the lengthy process of form-filling to gain licences to move livestock and show organisers claim restrictions will deter farmers from showing livestock.

There was hope restrictions would be lifted in time for the start of the show season, which runs from May to September, but some organisers have already decided to cancel events.

Restrictions are particularly strict on the movement of sheep, goats and pigs, in which the desease is harder to detect.

Farmers will have to set up isolation units on their farms for any animals that have returned from shows.

The animals will have to remain in isolation for 20 days after they return, and all vehicles used to move them will have to be thoroughly disinfected before and after journeys.

The symptoms are more quickly and easily recognisable in cattle and licences are easier to obtain for them. There are no restrictions on the movement of horses.

While many of the region's major agricultural shows are still expected to go ahead including the mammoth Great Yorkshire Show the restrictions may force organisers to scrap any plans for them to show animals, particularly sheep, pigs and goats.

The Tan Hill Swaledale Sheep show has already been called off because of the restrictions, and many others may well follow suit, or go ahead without livestock.

A North-East spokesman for the NFU said the show season would play a vital role in the farming industry's recovery from last year's epidemic. He said: "Shows are a very important part of the farming industry on three levels, for the development of farming, on a social level and for its contact with the public."

A spokesman for Defra said: "Farmers can move animals to shows if they wish, but there are still regulations in place.

"Any shows with animals will be closely monitored by Defra officials to ensure all the necessary precautions are taken."