A FARMERS' representative has described the introduction of a red box area preventing the movement of animals across the North of England as an extremely serious situation.

Mr David Maughan, NFU committee livestock chairman for Durham and Northumberland, said the restrictions - which have seen the revoking of local and long distance movement licences and licences to move to common grazing in a 6,100 square mile area from Leeds to the Scottish borders - would bring very severe penalties at a time when movements needed freeing.

"Many farmers in County Durham were due to have D notices lifted any day," said Mr Maughan. "That has now been halted for at least 21 days. If it goes on longer than that, the implications are serious. There is no winter fodder and land has been grazed off."

If animals had to be sold into the welfare scheme at £10 a head, which might be the only outlet, it would be disastrous.

The only movements allowed under the restrictions are those which come under occupational licences, such as moving cows for milking.

Although attention remains focused on outbreaks in Northumberland and Blanchland, foot-and-mouth is still threatening County Durham at its border with Cumbria.

Confirmed cases this week include Cragg House and Leonard's Cragg at North Stainmore; Eastfield Gate Farm at Warcop, and West View, Slip Inn on the Barras.

Meanwhile, the row about the dumping of animal carcasses at the Inkerman site in Tow Law rumbles on. Euro MP Mr Stephen Hughes, who has been putting the protesters' case to the European Commission, is awaiting a decision on whether the site closes while claims regarding the breaching of environmental laws governing groundwater pollution and risk assessment are investigated.

"The people of Tow Law - every child, woman and man - deserves to be heard on this matter," said Mr Hughes.

But Mr John Bradbury, regional operations director at the Newcastle disease emergency control centre, said, "Rendering plants could not cope with the increase of carcasses from recent culls, so it is necessary to use this site."

l Government officials could face prosecution over alleged cruelty during the battle to prevent foot-and-mouth after the RSPCA revealed that its legal department was looking at bringing court action in several cases following complaints over the way livestock was culled.

l Parish councils throughout North Yorkshire have called for a public and independent scientific inquiry into the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Mr Ian Strong, secretary of the Yorkshire Local Councils' Association, said they were writing to the Prime Minister, to tell him of the councils' very deep concern about the suffering in rural communities.

"Although we are aware that Mrs Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Defra, has announced three internal inquiries, the parishes firmly believe that they are inadequate in the present circumstances."