THE spectre of foot-and-mouth disease returned to the Wensleydale area with confirmation of an outbreak in Bishopdale on Wednesday.

Slaughtermen moved in to cull sheep and 30 dairy cattle at West Lane farm, Newbiggin, as soon as the virus was confirmed.

The stock was owned by Mr James Banks and his son, Kenneth, who live at nearby Hargarth farm. A family member said it was not known how the disease got on to the holding. All precautions had been taken and farmers in the area had thought they were safe.

Government vets were also said to be investigating a second suspected outbreak in the area, although no details were available.

The confirmed outbreak is about five miles from Aysgarth, which saw the last confirmed case in Wensleydale on April 23. Wednesday's news brings to ten the number of cases in the area and to 86 those in North Yorkshire.

Coun Colin Bailey, who represents Bishopdale on Richmondshire district council, said speculation over how the case got into the dale was rife.

Suspicions that wagons carrying carcases from Wharfedale for disposal had travelled through Bishopdale had been dismissed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

"Our efforts to investigate the matter over the last couple of months have included logging vehicle registrations and, each time, MAFF - now Defra - has told us that registration number was not part of their operation," said Coun Bailey.

In response to a direct question from Rejuvenate, a self- help group of farmers, the ministry said routes taken by carcase lorries did not include Bishopdale. A spokesman for Defra's regional office in Leeds confirmed that.

"The only thing we can surmise is that this is another roadside case of foot-and-mouth," said Coun Bailey.

He described the feeling in Bishopdale as complete devastation. "That was one pocket that was free of foot-and-mouth and they have kept themselves almost locked in to try to keep it out."

Confirmation of the disease dealt another hard blow to the dales tourism industry, which had hoped footpaths could be opened to attract visitors back.

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