A LANDFILL site has been reopened to take animal carcasses.

About 100 tonnes of dead pigs and sheep were buried in the commercial waste tip at Port Clarence, near Billingham, Teesside, last week, despite protests from neighbouring farmers.

Zero Waste, which runs the tip, said it would be taking up to ten lorry loads a day, with each load carrying 15 tonnes of carcasses.

Commercial director Philippa Gough said they had asked for a declaration with each load that the animals had not been infected.

She said they had been told the animals had all been slaughtered under the welfare disposal scheme, where livestock which cannot be moved but are living in deteriorating conditions are killed.

Ms Gough said: "The Intervention Board and Maff (Ministry of Agriculture) are desperate - animals are piling up in abattoirs and there is going to be a major crisis if we are not careful in terms of getting rid of the bodies.

"If they are going to go anywhere, they are far better going to a modern landfill site, rather than an open tip."

A Maff spokesman said: "There are a lot of animals that would need to be disposed of quickly."

Farmer Jeff Horn, whose cattle are separated from the site by a narrow road, said he was horrified at the decision to reopen the tip.

He said: "They closed it up after they listened to what we had to say, but now they are accepting animals again.

"I'm just gutted. If there is an outbreak around here, I will point the finger straight at them."