A FARMER who was told to leave his home by police at the height of the foot-and-mouth outbreak has died aged only 44.

Maurice Dickeson was the first farmer in Teesdale, County Durham, whose stock fell victim to the disease and was widely blamed by his neighbours for bringing it into the dale.

As anger mounted, police warned Mr Dickeson to leave the area - but he vowed to stay, and was adamant that he was not responsible.

Mr Dickeson had been unwell for some months, but he continued working on his land at Orchard Farm, in Middleton in Teesdale, near Barnard Castle.

Alan Scott, a former National Farmers' Union chairman in the area, said yesterday: "Maurice battled on bravely and was doing his best, despite being ill for quite a long time.

"He had the attitude that he was going to keep on running his farm as long as he could. He was always a hard worker and he never gave up.

"His wife, Marie, has always been a hard worker too. There will be a lot of sympathy in the area for her and their two young sons."

Mr Dickeson lost sheep to foot- and-mouth in 2001 on his farm, and at two other areas of land he used, at Hamsterley and in Baldersdale.

He protested at the time about "malicious rumours" that he had moved some stock illegally, insisting he had done nothing wrong.

Police said feelings ran so high that it was suggested to him that he might leave for a few days to let things simmer down, but he decided to stay put.

Mr Scott said yesterday: "There were rumours at the time, but all that kind of talk was forgotten a long time ago, and Maurice went about his work normally."

Mr Dickeson is survived by his widowed mother, Mary, as well as his wife and sons, John and Steven.

The funeral service will be at St Mary's Parish Church, Middleton in Teesdale, on Friday. Donations will go to cancer research and church funds.