THE Anderson "lessons learned" inquiry is to visit Yorkshire next week.

The team investigating how last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak was handled will be in the county from Wednesday to Friday.

A public meeting is planned in the Wesleyan Chapel, Harrogate, at 7pm on Thursday and three stakeholders' meetings will be held at Skipton, Northallerton and Helmsley, with dates and venues to be announced. These would involve not only farmers but other interested organisations such as national park authorities, trading standards and voluntary agencies.

Members at an NFU North Riding and Durham County committee meeting were concerned that the inquiry did not apportion blame, and looked forward instead of backwards.

Teesdale farmer Richard Betton said: "Hopefully, out of 'lessons learned' will come some sort of emergency planning system similar to that in place in local authorities for emergencies such as an explosion at a local factory. But we must not lose sight of the fact that there must be tighter imports."

To attend the public meeting, contact Samantha Dooley at COI Conference Services on 020 7261 8400/8385. Numbers are limited and admission is by ticket only.