AN INQUIRY into the foot-and-mouth crisis across the Northern uplands could become a reality - if other organisations join one of the region's national parks seeking partners to pay for the research.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority was considering going it alone if it could not persuade North Yorkshire County Council to consider an inquest into the affair.

Members have now decided that a partnership with others hit by the disease would be a better bet - and will now be approaching other national parks in northern England to gauge their reaction to the idea.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chairman Steve Macar said: "There is a great will within this authority to see that foot-and-mouth disease never darkens this area again.

"To do this, we need to record what happened, how it happened and what can be done to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"However, it would be wrong for this authority to take on this responsibility on its own as we do not have the finances or expertise and, further, our remit is too restricted.

"As a result, we will be seeing if there is a will among other authorities across the Northern uplands to pool our resources and hold a regional inquiry."

Suggested headings for the inquiry are to address are:

l The steps taken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to inquire into the origins of the epidemic.

l Steps taken to contain it.

l The clarity and certainty of the communications between the Ministry and farmers.

l The assessment and payment of compensation.

l The short, medium and long-term effects of the epidemic on the area.

Officers working for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority will report on feedback from potential partners in January