A FARMING couple have recorded a harrowing account of their battle with foot-and-mouth.

Colin and Vivien Whitfield have been filming a "warts and all" video diary since the disease was confirmed at their farm near Tow Law, County Durham, last Thursday.

No aspect of the disease has been spared.

The footage shows the aftermath of the vet's confirmation, from their 400 sheep and 670 beef cattle being slaughtered to the animals being tipped into a two-acre burial ground on their land.

The family have also recorded their feelings over the devastation of two generations' work being wiped out, and how they are trying to stay positive in the face of the crisis.

Mrs Whitfield, 40, said: "I don't think anyone anticipated it being such a widescale issue. It really is a crisis.

"I think we wanted to show the truth of what happens, every aspect from the procedures involved to our own personal thoughts.

"We are not the only people going through this. I think the video shows the reality of it. Every range of emotion has been recorded."

Mr Whitfield's son, Andrew, 18, has been living away from the farm for a month for his work at a hotel leisure complex in Durham and Mrs Whitfield has not seen her parents during that time.

She said the video diary would help their relatives and others see the scale of the disaster and understand what farming is going through.

The video is already in demand.

The family had an American vet, working on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Maff) at the farm. who has requested a copy to take back overseas with him. They have also had neighbours and friends calling for copies.

Mrs Whitfield said: "We have had lots of requests for it from neighbours, Maff contractors etc. I think it is because it shows the reality of what is happening.

"We were a bit reluctant to record it at first, but once we started it, it really did help us get through it.

"I think just talking things out and having a purpose to go and watch what is going on helped. We are going to continue filming."