Peter Monkhouse is already losing £10,000 a week from the foot-and-mouth crisis. But in another few weeks, he reckons he may not have a haulage business left to run.

Mr Monkhouse, 37, who saw 40 of his sheep culled last Wednesday after foot-and-mouth was confirmed, has a ten-vehicle fleet at his yard in Wolsingham, Weardale.

Two of his fleet are off the road and he has managed to pick up some flat work in cement haulage.

But it is a far cry from his usual trade transporting livestock to markets, abattoirs and to sheep dealers.

He faces a frustrating wait until April 9 - 30 days after the last day of disinfecting - before he is cleared to begin transporting again.

"That's if there's anything left to transport. It's a big threat," said Mr Monkhouse, who has been in business 20 years.

"If we're not back on the road by April 10 I don't know what will happen. I have £100,000 of cattle vehicles stood and not turning a wheel. We're just meeting overheads at the minute. I feel like throwing the towel in, I'm sick of it. It wouldn't be so bad if there was light at the end of the tunnel."

Maff confirmed the outbreak on land behind the haulage business last Tuesday and culled the following day.

But the rotting animals were left piled up for days before they were burnt.

"It was three days before they were put on the fire and by that time the stench was unbelievable," he said.

"The lads were retching putting them on the trucks and they had masks on. If I'd had another week of it I would have been suicidal."

Mr Monkhouse said the Government had to bring in more "power" to get the animals culled and moved quickly from the farms.

"Maff sent a team of men to clean up but a lot of them don't know how to pick up a sheep and get stuck in," he said. "They need to bring the army in because there's not enough power.