ANGRY protesters are today calling for the closure of a huge burial ground for animals slaughtered because of foot-and-mouth.

The site near Tow Law in Co Durham has been reopened by the Department for Environment, Food and Rual Affairs (Defra) because of the fresh outbreak of the disease in Northumberland.

An incident of the disease at Newbiggin Farm, near Consett, has become the 17th confirmed case in the area in 10 days.

Around 15 protesters arrived at the site to demonstrate their anger at the continuing burial of animals at Tow Law.

Peter Lister, who lives close to the site, said: "What we are angry about is the fact Margaret Beckett has described this site as a national asset - it is not, it is a national disgrace."

Residents claim they had been told the site would only take animals culled in County Durham, but he said they were culling from all over.

One person said: "Wherever there is an outbreak we take it. It is beyond belief."

Residents said Government officials said that Tow Law would only be used as a last resort.

A local grandmother Jean White, 63, added: "We shouldn't have to live with this.

"We are fighting this because we do not believe it is safe. "We get a terrible smell in the town when the wind blows in this direction and it is all going to start again."

The site was the scene of angry protests three months ago. At that time residents managed to have it temporarily closed down after demonstrating against a steady convoy of wagons carrying fetid, rotting animal carcasses bound for burial going past their homes.

The latest confirmed case also led to the extension of the exclusion zone around the Northumberland outbreaks for the second time in as many days.

Although Newbiggin Farm is just within the "blue box" exclusion zone, Defra officials yesterday moved the boundary a further three kilometres eastwards, into Co Durham.

Defra said it re-opened Tow Law because it could not cope with the huge numbers of animals being slaughtered in a bid to contain the disease.

Since the first case 10 days ago, slaughtermen have killed a total of 46,374 animals, with more than 12,500 cattle and sheep still awaiting slaughter.

The decision was therefore taken yesterday to start sending animals to the site, leaving families once again facing the nightmare of more dead sheep and cattle being transported past their homes.

Protesters begain gathering at the site last night. Regional operations director, John Bradbury, said: "Rendering plants could not cope with the recent increase in the volume of carcasses involved in recent farm culls.

"As a result, it is necessary to use the Tow Law burial site."

Mr Bradbury emphasised that it was still his "preferred option" to send culled animals for rendering, adding: "We are confident that there will be no long-term environmental harm."