OFFICIALS fighting to stop foot and mouth from gripping North Yorkshire may have to break off to investigate grouse shooters.

Trading standards officers issued the warning after receiving complaints that strict rules aimed at preventing the spread of the disease may have been breached by shoots.

North Yorkshire County Council's trading standards officers, who are responsible for policing foot and mouth rules, say they will prosecute anyone found to be breaching the regulations.

They warn they will also ask the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to revoke shoot licences where breaches are discovered.

But the frustrated officers say checking up on the shoots could mean moving trading standards officers from their current vital task of enforcing the county's "bio-security zone", which is centred on Thirsk and stretches to the northern boundary of York.

Gordon Gresty, the council's director of business and consumer services, said: "We have received complaints that those involved in the shoots are not following proper bio-security procedures and are increasing the risk of spreading foot and mouth.

"We will be investigating any allegations and will be prosecuting offenders."

The licences to shoot grouse in infected areas which are issued by DEFRA contain strict conditions.

These require that those taking part should not have handled livestock in the previous seven days, that they wear clean outdoor clothing and cleanse and disinfect vehicles before entering and leaving the shooting area, and must provide disinfectant pads and baths at all points where and leave the shooting area.

John Haigh, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, in North Yorkshire, said: "Whilst it's important that grouse shooting goes ahead for input to the rural economy, we would strongly urge everyone involved in grouse shooting to strictly adhere to the bio-security rules laid down by DEFRA."

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, August 16, 2001