THE CLA has told the Government that time is running out to deal with the foot and mouth outbreak which began in February.

"Our members, some of them farmers, others with businesses in rural areas, are terrified of a resurgence of the disease which is now a distinct possibility with the onset of cooler autumn weather," said Dorothy Fairburn, Yorkshire regional director of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

"For those with rural businesses, the end to the year could be grim. The CLA did manage to persuade the Government to defer rates and other taxes for six months but the clock is now ticking towards the deadline and these bills will have to be paid.

"Many rural businesses are suffering very much reduced income and it is difficult to see how they can make these deferred payments. Most businesses use the winter months to re-invest but this will not be an option available to them this year."

Miss Fairburn said that the number of officially recorded cases of foot and mouth disease had already passed the 2,000 mark "yet the Government does not seem to appreciate the severity of the current crisis in farming and the countryside.

"We were told in June that the end of the foot and mouth was in sight, but the epidemic is clearly a long way from being under control."

She repeated the call for an open, independent and speedy inquiry into the outbreak.

Updated: 08:49 Thursday, September 20, 2001