FARMING leaders in an area still firmly in the grip of the foot-and-mouth epidemic spoke last night of their fears that the disease would leave a "barren wasteland" across the region.

The epidemic has wiped out livestock on dozens of farms around Northallerton, in North Yorkshire, and is edging closer to spreading across the North York Moors.

Twenty cases of the disease have been confirmed on a cluster of farms in communities surrounding the town - but animals on 57 contiguous premises have been slaughtered, highlighting the true extent of the crisis facing the area.

Peter Edmunds, secretary of the local branch of the National Farmers' Union, said the disease was "closing in" on the few areas still unaffected.

"People are very concerned, and the big dairy herds which are still left are facing real problems," he said.

"With every case there are contiguous culls on four or five adjoining farms, and if it gets up on to the moors it could be disastrous."

The warning came as a renewed plea was made for Government aid to boost the economy in North Yorkshire, with the county losing £1m a day in tourist income and thousands of jobs in jeopardy.

Former leader of North Yorkshire County Council, David Ashton, said: "We have had only two cases on the North York Moors, but this has been enough to deter visitors and have a dramatic effect on businesses."