FARMERS and community leaders last night vented their anger and frustration at the handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Speaking at a meeting of the independent Lessons Learned Inquiry, they spoke of arrogance by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and a harrowing catalogue of mistakes.

About 100 people from throughout the North-East attended the meeting chaired by Dr Iain Anderson, at the Newcastle Civic Centre.

It was one of a series of meetings held countrywide by the inquiry team.

Irene Whitfield of High Hedleyhope Farm, Tow Law, County Durham, described how she had waited days before Defra officials responded to an outbreak at her farm.

For the first two days she was greeted with an answerphone as the animals were struck down by the disease and when an American vet arrived he said he knew nothing about sheep. The family farm lost 800 cattle and 400 sheep.

Defra was also accused of arrogance towards residents of Tow Law, where a burial site was earmarked without any consultation.

The inquiry, set up by the Government, is aimed at defining areas where there were "significant shortcomings and failures in processes".

It will make recommendations to remedy them, and will be in contact with other Government-appointed inquiries.

There is a meeting today, at Tow Law, then the team continues to Raby Castle, Barnard Castle, where a series of meetings will be staged.

The inquiry hopes to submit its final report by the middle of this year, with interim findings sooner if there are important recommendations