DALES farmers watched helplessly last night as the foot-and-mouth menace advanced relentlessly from the west.

An outbreak of the disease was confirmed at Palliard, on the A66 near the Cumbria/County Durham border yesterday - only a few miles from Teesdale and the Yorkshire Dales.

Yesterday's outbreak comes only days after a case was discovered at nearby North Stainmore.

Last night, farmers leaders said the disease appeared to be advancing down the A66 corridor.

An NFU spokesman said: "This is extremely worrying because it is so far from the hot spot in Northumberland we've been dealing with.

"Farmers in Teesdale and the Yorkshire Dales will be praying it doesn't spread any further."

Tony Blair heard at first hand yesterday how farmers in the region are coping with the disease. Three farmers were invited to Mr Blair's home in Trimdon Colliery, County Durham.

Restrictions on animal movements and sales meant some farmers may soon be unable to afford to keep their stock, the Prime Minister was told. Farmer Andrew Thompson said: "Within three months at the most there will be a serious animal welfare problem."

Mr Blair also met the chief executive of Northumbria Tourist Board, Peter Sloyan, who pleaded for extra government help for hoteliers.

Meanwhile, a senior government advisor is expected to fly to Strasbourg soon, to defend the policy of dumping carcasses at the mass burial site at Tow Law, County Durham. The European Commission yesterday announced that the policy had breached at least three European directives.

Urgent negotiations will now take place over the lawfulness of the site.

A coalition of local authorities and residents yesterday called for the immediate closure of the 200 acre site and for compensation for the local community.

Durham County Council leader Ken Manton said: "The people of Tow Law have suffered greatly. Enough is enough."

Further concerns were raised about waste from the site leaking into Hedley Hope Beck, when residents in Cornsay Colliery found fish dying in the stream on Thursday.

Read more about foot-and-mouth here.