A DEVASTATED farmer has dismissed claims by the ministry's chief vet that foot-and-mouth is under control.

Richard Harding, 40, said last night that although other disease-hit areas around the country may appear to be under control according to chief vet Professor David King, in County Durham the epidemic was getting worse.

His stock at High Farm, Cleatlam, near Winston, became the latest confirmed case in County Durham, this week, after he spotted symptoms in two of his lambs.

Just hours later, ministry vets had condemned his 200 sheep and 87 cattle to slaughter.

Mr Harding, who is the third generation of his family to farm there, said he believed the disease was still prevalent, especially in Teesdale.

"The chief vet may think it is under control elsewhere in the country, but I don't think that is true of County Durham or Teesdale."

But he said: "Comments like that are not much consolation to us.

"They dealt with the situation here very quickly and efficiently, I have no complaints about that, but there is a long way to go."

Despite losing his livelihood, Mr Harding said that he and his wife, Linda, would start again.

He said: "I'm down but not beaten. We have two young children to support and I'm determined to start up again in farming.

"But at the moment we're just trying to come to terms with it."