A THEATRE company watched near-tragedy turn to farce when ministry of Agriculture officials threatened to destroy a barn full of props because they feared they were infected.

Members of Jack Drum Arts were told last week that more than £1,000 worth of material would have to be burnt because it was on land next to an infected farm, in Baldersdale, County Durham.

Jill Cole and Simon Pell were staggered when vets inspecting barns and land near Hill Gill Farm, which was confirmed as being infected last month, said their equipment could be carrying the disease and would have to be destroyed.

In a bid to save their materials, which they claim have never come into contact with farm animals, the couple contacted their local National Farmers' Union representative, Phil Barber, for help.

Mr Barber contacted the ministry and pleaded with officials not to throw the materials on a pyre.

The couple waited 24 hours before the fate of their equipment, including cardboard, bamboo, willow sticks and foam, was decided.

The Ministry finally announced that the materials would have to be fumigated with sheep disinfectant instead.

Although the news was a relief to the theatre company, members described the process as farcical.

Ms Cole, a member of Jack Drum Arts for four years, said: "The whole thing has been an ordeal. We couldn't believe they were going to burn the whole lot, because it seemed such an over-reaction.

"One minute they were threatening to destroy materials and equipment that has taken us four years to collect, the next they want to fumigate it. It's absolutely ludicrous."

"I feel really sorry for the farmers, because the Ministry of Agriculture seems completely disorganised - I wouldn't be surprised if they change their minds again and decide to cull our equipment."

The ministry has yet to decide a date for the fumigation