A SENIOR Government official dealt a blow to campaigners calling for a public inquiry into the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Newly-appointed Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong told protestors fighting a mass burial site in Tow Law, County Durham, that such inquests were a waste of money.

At an informal meeting between the Cabinet Minister and 20 campaigners yesterday, in Tow Law Community Centre, she said: "I will certainly be arguing that it is investigated thoroughly, but I am not a big fan of public inquiries.

"They go on forever. The BSE inquiry went on for 18 months and cost millions, and I don't know if we are any the wiser for it."

Her comments come as vets and rural business leaders joined the call for a public inquiry into the way the crisis has been handled.

Ms Armstrong was told that residents were worried for their children's health after being plagued by unpleasant smells from the site, as well as fearing an environmental disaster.

Margaret Collins, from the Deerness Valley Estate, said: "I want to ask whether, in five years time, we are looking at an environmental disaster.

"I am very, very concerned. Not for me - I've had three-quarters of my life - I am concerned about my children and grandchildren. I have begged my children to move away and get out of here. I am not satisfied with any of the answers we are getting.''

Campaigner Hugh Nicol said: "They are doing things that are purely experimental and they are reacting as a result of our concerns. We are being used as guinea pigs.''

Miss Armstrong agreed that, so far, action on the site had been taken because the residents had been asking the right questions.

She said she had already taken their request to close the site to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett, but warned residents that closure might not be imminent.

She said: "I talked to Margaret Beckett on Saturday. She did say we do not feel confident about closing the site yet, because we are not confident about the control of the disease.''

She has vowed to read a report submitted by one resident and to discuss the requests made to European parliament to close the site with Europe MP Stephen Hughes.