The farmer blamed for the foot-and-mouth outbreak that crippled Britain appeared in court today to answer charges about his involvement over the crisis.

Pig farmer Bobby Waugh, ironically represented by solicitors firm LeBoef, Lamb, Green and MacRae and aptly named solicitor Michael Hogg, stands accused of 16 breaches of animal health laws.

The 55-year-old had his usual confrontation with photographers before going into the tiny Tynedale magistrates court in Hexham, Northumberland, today.

Mr Waugh and his sick brother Ronald, 60, both from Sunderland, were prosecuted by Northumberland County Council trading standards department over offences relating to their Burnside Farm at Heddon-on-the-Wall in the county.

The pair, who were pinpointed as the probable source of the foot-and-mouth crisis faced charges under the Animal Health Act 1981 and the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

The most serious of these charges are five offences in which it is alleged they failed to notify officials that their animals had foot-and-mouth.

Other charges relate to the failure to dispose of animal carcasses correctly, cruelty to their pigs and bringing unprocessed waste to their farm and feeding it to their animals.

Magistrates heard that Ronald Waugh, who has been ill since the start of the outbreak in February, was still too sick to attend court.

His brother spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth before magistrates adjourned the hearing for a pre-trial review on August 16.

It is likely a trial, under a district judge, will take place later in the year and could last up to two weeks.

The brothers were brought to court by trading standards after inspectors swooped on their farm following the foot-and-mouth outbreak and after complaints by neighbours about their business.

Updated: 16.15 Wednesday, July 18