AN ANGRY North Yorkshire farmer has slammed "sick" thieves who stole equipment used to disinfect people and vehicles against foot and mouth .

Jonathan Fairburn, of Griff Farm, near Helmsley - which falls inside the Government's bio-security zone - says the thieves have now put his farm at risk.

"Without this equipment we can't disinfect people coming on to the farm, which is increasing the risk of spreading foot and mouth."

Like every other farmer within the bio-security zone Mr Fairburn is required to place footbaths, disinfectant spray and brushes at the entrance to his farm.

"I woke up and found my brush and my sprayer had been stolen - the entrance is some way from the farm so I wouldn't have seen who did it," he said.

"It has cost me £35 to replace and I simply cannot believe someone is going around stealing these items at such a critical time as this.

"I know I am not the only one within the bio-security zone to have had items pinched. Whoever is doing this is sick."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were unaware that disinfecting items had been stolen from farms in the zone.

Meanwhile, National Farmers' Union president and North Yorkshire farmer Ben Gill has welcomed the appointment of Dr Iain Anderson to chair an inquiry into the handling of the outbreak, saying he would seek an urgent meeting with him to stress the need for it to be independent and to involve the farming industry in all its stages.

He added: "Farmers will want to help protect themselves from this kind of disaster again and they help expect the Government to work with them on this."

He also welcomed the Royal Society scientific inquiry into the transmission, prevention and control of all epidemic diseases in livestock, adding: "Fundamental questions like where the disease came from and how the Government can prevent further outbreaks of animal diseases brought in from abroad need to be answered."

Mr Gill, who farms near Easingwold, said a third inquiry, by the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, must use the opportunity to help restore a profitable farming industry in Britain.

Updated: 11:26 Friday, August 10, 2001