THE Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has launched an investigation into allegations that major blunders were made by workers brought in to contain the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The department (Defra) is treating seriously claims that vital bio-security measures were ignored and widespread mistakes were made over animal movement licences, which may have caused the disease to spread.

A series of allegations have been made by a former field officer, Bryan Munro, employed on a temporary basis by Defra during the height of the crisis in Northumberland.

The 47-year-old claimed farmers and ministry staff ignored bio-security aimed at controlling the disease.

He claimed he saw lorries leaving the Widdrington mass burial site covered in contaminated ash, and that staff knew waste from burning pyres of infected animals was blowing on to nearby fields and houses.

He also alleged that the ministry was aware farmers were being offered diseased animals to infect their herds.

Other allegations included that lorry drivers tried to leave farms with dirty wagons and outside contractors turned up to move animals without licences.

A Defra spokesman said: ''We are investigating the claims, so we cannot comment further at the moment. The investigation may take a few weeks.''