A BUS company has been criticised after refusing to drive its vehicles through a foot-and- mouth disinfectant point.

Residents living in and around the Stanhope area of County Durham say they are disgusted that Weardale Motor Services will not drive its buses through the disinfectant point at the eastern end of the town.

A woman, who did not wish to be named, said she watched as council workers switched off the spray so one of the company's buses could drive through.

She said: "The majority of people aren't happy about it. Apparently the company has said the disinfectant will damage the buses, but everybody else is prepared to risk taking their cars through."

John Armstrong, from Westgate, is incensed by the situation and said he has complained to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

"I have taken up this matter with Defra but they have no power to force them to go through. These buses are travelling up and down the Dales, and it is disgusting - no wonder there are more outbreaks.

"They will soon be shouting for subsidies if the farmers go bankrupt.

"We are living in a blue box zone and we need to be careful. We do not want foot-and-mouth back. People are being kept off the land, yet a bus company is not cooperating with Defra. What if drivers refused to take their cars through?''

Roland Gibson, from the bus company, declined to comment about the situation.

A spokesperson for Defra said: "We understand that Weardale Motor Service disinfects its buses at its depot first thing in the day, and when they leave the blue box area at the end of the day. From our point of view that is fine."