FEARS that the remains of contaminated animals would have been exhumed and burned after a burial blunder have been quashed.

Confusion reigned in Tow Law, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, after it was revealed animals from a foot-and-mouth infected farm were accidentally buried on a water course.

Farmers in the area had heard that stock belonging to Doug Foster, of Low Houselop Farm, were being dug up and would then be burned on the premises.

But yesterday, Mr Foster and Army officials said there would be no fire and the animals would be taken away to a land-fill site.

Mr Foster witnessed 250 cattle and more than 800 sheep destroyed and buried when foot-and-mouth was confirmed at his farm more than two weeks ago.

But now it has emerged that a natural spring supplying the family's water has become contaminated as a result of the grim burial.

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Donaldson said that there had been a genuine mix-up.

"The contractor asked for two possible sites to be investigated and some confusion arose.

"The details of which sites had permission were transposed," said the Royal Artillery officer.

Mr Sanguine was sanguine about the mix-up.

"There's no big problem, but there's been an awful lot of stories going around," he said. "The animals are going to be dug up, loaded on to wagons and taken away within a week or so."

John Shuttleworth, Weardale's Durham county councillor, said he had received calls from farmers anxious about yet another pyre.

"I am happy they are going to be re-buried - but the sight for him and his family must be horrendous," said Councillor Shuttleworth.

"I think the sooner they are dug up and put in another place and everything is put back, the better."

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