Countryside dwellers are planning direct action protests should a North Yorkshire landfill site be used to bury foot and mouth culled cattle.

Rumours have been rife that the site, near Alne brickworks, would be used to bury cattle killed in a major post-election cull.

MAFF, now known as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has consistently denied that any cull was due.

Officers have conceded Alne had been considered as a possible site should extra space be needed to get deal with carcasses.

Easingwold man John Ziliukas said today that if the site was used he and other residents would make it as difficult as possible for culled carcasses to be brought in.

He said: "It would be mad to use an area like this, where thankfully there has been no foot and mouth, to get rid of animals that could be carrying the infection.

"I have been trying to get some straight answers about whether this site is going to be used or not, but I am still waiting.

"We want to know whether it will be used - sooner rather than later."

Apart from his two pet goats, Mr Ziliukas owns no livestock and doesn't make his living from farming.

He said he is concerned because foot and mouth is an issue that affects the entire community.

"It could be disastrous. We will do what we can to stop them bringing it. I am already planning a petition, but other people are prepared to take more drastic action.

"One woman, for instance, is ready to chain herself to railings at the site to block the wagons."

District Councillor for Alne Frank Wade said he is aware protests could take place.

"I know how strongly people around here are feeling and that there could well be protests. I know that there is the possibility of setting up a road block, but I don't want to say much more than that.

"This must be stopped. If they bring animals here and the infection gets into the water then we could be looking at a real disaster," Coun Wade said.

A DEFRA spokesperson again stressed it was still only a possibility the site would be used - but if carcasses were brought there they could, in theory, be from anywhere in the country.

The spokesperson added: "These sites are not designated only for the disposal of animals slaughtered within the county the site is in. However, we are only looking at this North Yorkshire site. It may be suitable, it may not. But it should only be needed if we get a big spread of the disease."

Updated: 08:34 Tuesday, June 12, 2001