PIG farmers in North Yorkshire have backed a group of farmers who are suing the Government after they went bust during the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

A group of 51 pig farmers are trying to sue the government for compensation totalling £41 million after they lost their livelihoods due to the outbreak.

The action is the latest move in a six-year wrangle by swill feeders - five of whom are from Yorkshire - that were put out of business when swill feeding of pigs was banned during the 2001 crisis.

The practice of feeding pigs with swill - processed and sterilised food waste from the catering industry - was banned but farmers who went out of business were not compensated.

Pig farmer John Lister, of Boroughbridge, said he backed the farmers' legal efforts, saying: "I think they have got a very good case.

"A system that was in place was wiped out in one day with no compensation for those producers affected, which seems totally wrong. The process was safe.

"It was the policy of the government officials that caused the whole problem in the first place."

He called for proper compensation for those farmers who were put out of business.

He said: "If you take away someone's livelihood there has to be a reasonable level of compensation.

"The whole thing is incredible really. I am sure the government were massively at fault for foot-and-mouth. The whole thing was a disgrace."

He added: "I think they have got a very good chance of succeeding. I am sure the chickens are going to come home to roost."

Chris England, 41, from Holtby, near York, who farmed pigs at the time of the crisis agreed the government had massively mishandled the outbreak.

He said: "I think the restrictions meant that the value of your stock massively decreased.

"There were huge financial implications because of the mishandling of it. They did not do enough when they should have and then basically panicked once they realised what had happened.

"It seemed to whip up a wild panic throughout the ranks which seems to be symptomatic of this government.

"They knew there was a problem and eventually all hell broke loose."