LIVESTOCK farmers and drivers of milk tankers, and feed lorries and other vehicles going on and off livestock farms who fail to observe strict biosecurity rules will face prosecution as part of DEFRA's campaign to stamp out foot and mouth disease in the area round Thirsk, Animal Health Minister Elliot Morley warned.

"The majority of the livestock sector knows how important it is to keep up their guard at a time when the disease is confined to a few hot spots," said Mr Morley. "But I am determined that the minority who are flouting these important measures do not endanger the majority.

"Our checks have revealed a considerable number of infringements. For the first few days we were just pointing this out to farmers and drivers, but we now need to take a harder line.

"In future, farmers and drivers who fail to comply with the biosecurity requirements are likely to be reported for prosecution. I am determined that within 30 days there will be no biosecurity failures within the area under patrol.

The maximum penalty under the Animal Health Act is a fine on conviction in a magistrates' court of £5,000.

Trading standards officers from across the country are currently working in North Yorkshire and will continue to patrol the area on a 24-hour-a-day basis to carry out spot checks without warning. The patrols are made in police cars with police officers driving.

Culling contractors in the heart of North Yorkshire's foot and mouth crisis zone have been found with dirty machinery.

Trading standards officers said they "read the Riot Act" to contractors after discovering grass and mud on equipment like lifting gear on cull workers' wagons near Thirsk.

Graham Venn, assistant head of North Yorkshire trading standards, said infection rules had not been broken, though officers had feared the items might have been on their way to a "relevant premise".

They contacted the contractors to ensure the items were cleansed first.

He added: "What we have done is read the Riot Act. We have issued warnings to the culling teams and to the cleansing and disinfection teams, that the same rules apply to them as apply to the (farming) industry.

"We won't tolerate any indiscretions just because they are on the culling team or the cleansing and disinfection team."

A Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) spokeswoman said: "All DEFRA staff and all contractors working for DEFRA are aware that the restrictions apply to everyone working or living in the bio-security zone, without exception."

The checks had found 77 vehicles to be inadequately disinfected out of 659 checked since the bio-security zone round Thirsk was set up at the end of July.

Also 80 out of 1,165 farms surveyed have been issued with notices for breaching cleansing rules.

Mr Venn said eight more farms were being further investigated.

Farmers can obtain information on the bio-security area and the necessary procedures they need to comply with from www.northyorks.gov.uk.