THE owners of the highest pub in England, known for being host to the annual Swaledale sheep show, have become the latest victims of foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr Alec Baines and his wife, Margaret, who run the Tan Hill inn, had the disease confirmed in their sheep on land opposite Slip House at the Barras on Tuesday. The outbreak will not affect the running of the inn, but it is a further tragedy for the couple, who suffered a family bereavement this week.

Other outbreaks on the Durham-Cumbria border include a case at Palliard on South Stainmore and one at Brough but, although County Durham has been declared a high risk area, local NFU secretary Mr Phil Barber said some animal movements would be allowed.

"Efforts are being made to allow movement into Yorkshire," he said. "This is very important as 85-90pc of breeding sheep and suckler calves normally go out of the county."

As the D&S Times went to press, a Defra spokesman confirmed that talks were continuing with the local authority, Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency about the siting of disinfection points in the vicinity of the A66 on the Durham-Cumbria border.

Elsewhere, a coalition of residents and local authorities has repeated the demand for the immediate closure of the Inkerman burial site at Tow Law. Members of the county council, Tow Law Town Council, Wear Valley and Derwentside District Councils and community representatives are demanding the immediate closure of the 200-acre site and calling for significant compensation for the distress and suffering caused to the local community.

The group has agreed to meet weekly to monitor developments and formulate a plan of action. Meanwhile, local representatives met the Prime Minister at the weekend, along with their MP, Miss Hilary Armstrong. They were confident Mr Blair wanted to help, as he had promised to try to give them a closure date.

l A heavily-contaminated foot-and-mouth pressure washer has been stolen from the Tow Law burial site by thieves who cut through the site fence on Wednesday night.

Defra officials yesterday issued an urgent warning that it could easily spread the disease if used near farm animals.

"Anyone offered a pressure washer from a less than reputable source could buy a lot more than they bargained for," said Mr John Bradbury, regional operations director at the Newcastle disease control centre.

"Anyone with information should contact Durham police immediately.