A WOMAN who is expecting more than 3,000 tonnes of ash from foot-and-mouth carcasses to be temporarily stored next to her farm claims her animals are being put at risk of contracting the disease.

Janice Bullock farms 100 head of cattle at Old Hall Farm, Lackenby, near Redcar, part of the massive Wilton site on Teesside.

The first ash from the mass burial site at Widdrington, Northumberland, has now arrived on Tees-side where it will be temporarily stored until a suitable landfill site can be found outside the region.

Mrs Bullock claims the containers, which will be stored at the Freightliner site, will be extremely close to her cattle and she fears that one leak from one container could spell disaster. She said: "I think it is absolutely disgusting bringing it into this area. We are all trying to keep it out.

"Although it is in sealed containers there is always a chance of it leaking, even though it is only being stored here before it moves on. We actually farm inside the site where this stuff is going."

Redcar MP Vera Baird received confirmation from agriculture ministry vets in Newcastle that there was no risk to Mrs Bullock's animals, but she said: "The containers are supposed to be properly lined, but the slightest blow of dust out on to the cattle farm could spell disaster. We have had risk assessments and it is pretty nasty stuff on the face of it."

Gordon Kingston, regional operations director at the Newcastle Disease Emergency Centre, said: "Every precaution is being taken during the ash removal process and transportation. We have engaged specialist contractors who know how to deal with such material and even the containers have special linings."

Vicky Askew, from Freightliner, said the containers had been certified safe to travel and safe to be stored. She said: "As far as we are concerned there is no risk to either people or animals, otherwise we wouldn't consider doing it.

"We wouldn't take it if there was any risk of spreading this awful disease further."