Livestock infected with foot and mouth disease will not be disposed of in virus-free areas, a senior MAFF official said this afternoon.

And local people will be consulted before a potential burning or burial site is given the go-ahead.

The pledges were made today at a Press conference held jointly by MAFF and the Army.

Dr Stephen Hunter, MAFF's foot and mouth operations director, for Yorkshire, said that of the 300 possible sites identified across the area for the disposal of livestock, 50 had been short-listed.

He declined to say where the sites were although he confirmed that a quarry at Golden Hill, near Malton, was a potential site.

"Foot and mouth is not yet finished in this area and we are looking for sites in the unlikely event we get outbreaks beyond the current area," he said.

There are now 20 outbreaks in North Yorkshire, mainly in the west, but with one case near Whitby. (CHECK).

Dr Hunter said sites were also needed for the disposal of uninfected livestock which needed to be slaughtered because of welfare issues arising from movement restrictions.

He said that if outbreaks were to spread to other parts of North and East Yorkshire, the preference would be to render the livestock or burn it. Burial was unlikely because of the shallow top soil that covers much of Yorkshire.

But Dr Hunter added: "There's no question of taking foot and mouth carcasses into clean areas. This would be clean carcasses from clean areas".

Major Richard Hayhurst said that before any site was cleared for use in the disposal of livestock, the Environment Agency, health officials, police and local authorities, would be consulted.

Dr Hunter added: "We will talk to local people as well".

Updated: 15:36 Wednesday, April 25, 2001