THE risks posed by foot-and-mouth pyres are to be discussed in Richmond.

Members of Richmondshire District Council's foot-and-mouth working group meet today to debate the impact the disease has had on the area.

Smoke from the burning carcasses of livestock slaughtered to prevent the epidemic spreading was prompting considerable concern in the Catterick area a year ago.

However, a report penned by environmental health expert, Peter Daley, and Cumbrian scientist, Richard Hill, published in last month's Environmental Health Journal concluded that there was no need for alarm.

Yet there was evidence to suggest contamination of the soil around pyre sites.

Mr Hill and Mr Daley said: "While the pyres were undeniably a source of both air and soil pollution, the levels which were monitored were not likely to pose a serious risk to health.''

The report did say more early research into the topic could have helped allay public concern."It is regrettable that adequate information on possible health risks from pyres was not available from national bodies much earlier.

"Indeed, this lack of information and cooperation caused significant delays to the air pollution monitoring reported,'' said the report.