A pig farmer whose animals were among the first to be infected in the foot-and-mouth crisis has denied 22 charges relating to the disease.

Robert Waugh, 56, who operated from Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, pleaded not guilty at Tynedale Magistrates, in Hexham, to charges brought by the county's Trading Standards department.

Mr Waugh originally faced 16 charges including five counts of failing to notify officials of foot-and-mouth disease in animals, four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, one of bringing unprocessed catering waste on to his premises and a further charge of feeding it to pigs.

There were also four charges of failing to dispose of animal by-products and one of failing to record the movement of pigs on the farm.

A further six charges were brought by Northumberland County Council Trading Standards in August.

Under the Animal Health Act, he faces two charges of moving pigs without a licence and two of failure to maintain movement records. Under the Trade Descriptions Act, there are two alleged offences relating to false descriptions on transport documents.

Mr Waugh denied yesterday all six additional charges which were brought in August of this year. He appeared alongside Leslie Kenneth Scurr, a haulier, of Ripon, North Yorkshire, who faces 16 charges under the Animal Health Act - 11 of which are said to have taken place at Burnside Farm.

Mr Scurr pleaded not guilty to five charges of incomplete transport certificates, four counts of failure to transport animals without delay to their place of destination, and two charges of false descriptions.

A further five unrelated charges are to be heard by Richmond magistrates later this year.

A pre-trial review date has been set for November 19.

Mr Waugh, of St Luke's Road, Sunderland, was originally jointly charged with his brother, Ronnie, 60. Ronnie Waugh's charges were separated from those faced by his brother, all of which have been adjourned indefinitely due to his ill health.

Robert Waugh will face trial on May 6, 2002 for the original 16 charges, which he denies.