FARMERS who have received foot-and-mouth compensation payouts are being warned to be on the look out for dodgy insurance deals.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is urging its members in the North-East and North Yorkshire to be cautious when offered investment deals for their payouts.

The CLA's North-East director Antony Haslam said: "Names and addresses of farmers who have suffered foot-and-mouth on their land, together with details of the stock culled, are freely available on the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs web site.

"The worry is that this information may be used to target farmers with all sorts of deals.

"Investment opportunities may not be what they seem because the stock market at the moment is a place for real experts. Even what were once regarded as safe investments are recording losses because some shares are in freefall.

"The best thing any farmer can do under these circumstances is to seek the advice of anorganisation like the CLA. Do not part with money without talking to those you know and trust."

Mr Haslam went on to stress the compensation payouts were earmarked to pay off overdrafts and to replace stock and it was advisable not to invest in 'get rich quick' schemes.