A SENIOR official from the Ministry of Agriculture's regional base at Leeds is due to address Richmondshire councillors about the foot and mouth crisis.

A representative of Mr Stephen Hunter, regional director, reports on the handling of operations in the district to the foot-and-mouth disease working group on Monday.

The meeting also includes presentations by the community health council and the local authority's environment unit manager on the effects of the crisis, including the pyres, on public health.

A North Yorkshire trading standards officer is also due to report on the department's role.

Coun Yvonne Peacock, chairman of the FMD working group, said Maff had been invited to answer concerns about some aspects of the handling of the crisis, including the contiguous culling policy.

The latest confirmed case in the district was at Crossfields, Aysgarth, in Wensleydale, where Mr John Heseltine saw 550 sheep and 50 cattle slaughtered on suspicion of the disease last Friday night.

Local people praised the efficiency with which the slaughterers worked, with all carcases removed by 11am on Saturday, bound for an incinerator at Bradford.

The case - the 20th in North Yorkshire - was confirmed on Monday morning and animals at five contiguous premises were also killed.

Confirmation of the Aysgarth case came two days after the virus was identified at the Bratley family's Butterwell Farm at Patrick Brompton, near Bedale.

Slaughter of the holding's 160 cattle and 30 sheep, along with about 3,000 sheep, 350 cattle and 60 pigs at nine neighbouring farms, began immediately.

Foot-and-mouth was also confirmed at Home Farm, Catterick, where 280 cattle and 780 sheep were culled.

The farm, owned by Mr John Watson, is less than half a mile from the Brough Hall home of Tory leader and Richmond MP Mr William Hague and his wife, Ffion.

The Hagues and 20 other families who live at the hall are able to come and go only if they observe disinfecting procedures.

Mr Hague, who was at home when the disease was confirmed on Sunday, sympathised with his neighbour.

"This news is heartbreaking for all the people who live here," he said. "This experience is only typical of what has happened in hundreds of farms around the country over the last few weeks. Really good and conscientious farmers who look after the health of their animals, and have done everything possible to avoid foot-and-mouth getting onto their farms, have seen their animals succumb."

Mr Watson's farm has been in the family for 100 years. His mother, Joyce, aged 80, said: "This family has had many years in farming and witnesses many things but this is the worst day I can remember."

A farmer who faced similar heartbreak earlier this month congratulated Maff for its slick operation.

Mrs Pat Thistlethwaite, of South Dyke Farm, Bellerby, near Leyburn, said infected sheep and dairy cattle were killed and incinerated within 30 hours of her husband reporting a sick sheep two weeks ago.

Eleven farms in Bellerby, including six dairy herds, were affected, said Mrs Thistlethwaite, a member of the country land and business association. She said she and her husband would continue farming after the crisis, but not dairying.