A COUNCIL committee launched an attack on Maff last night.

A working group set up by Richmondshire District Council, in North Yorkshire, had invited a ministry official to answer questions and update its members on the battle to contain the disease.

But no Maff officer attended the meeting, and a letter read to the committee said the department had declined the invitation because guidelines prevented it from sending officers to political meetings.

Chairwoman Yvonne Peacock said a letter had already been sent to Richmond MP and Tory leader William Hague, who had intervened on the group's behalf, taking up the matter with Agriculture Minister Nick Brown