A farmer told last night of his anguish at being responsible for the killing of his sheep.

The culling of 132 animals, many of them ewes carrying lambs, was carried out yesterday at Simon Plumb's farm.

Mr Plumb, 22, who has two fields at Sidehead, near Westgate, Upper Weardale, was identified as a dangerous contact by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Maff) officials because he was working on a farm where the disease was confirmed.

He said: "The last two weeks have been a nightmare for me. I called Maff and told them I was quite happy for them to come and cull my sheep.

"I did not want to be the one who brought the disease up the dale. I have explained my decision to my neighbours."

As the Army supervised the loading of carcasses, Mr Plumb told how he had been working as a labourer at a farm at Hamsterley, 21 miles away, when it was confirmed as a foot-and-mouth site.

He said: "What makes it even more sad is that I have had the best lambing season ever."

Neighbour Michael Coulthard said: "It has been very brave of him to call in Maff and sacrifice his flock to protect others in the upper dale."