THE fear of spreading foot-and-mouth has driven a North-East farmer to leave his family and move into a caravan near his stock.

Ian Stoddart, who has asked for his exact whereabouts not to be published, moved off his farm in Teesdale ten days ago so he would not have to go back and forth from his farm to feed his animals.

The 56-year-old hill farmer has not seen his wife and son since moving four miles from his farm to be close to his flock of Swaledale sheep.

Instead he keeps in touch using a mobile phone, while his wife and son look after the cattle on the farm.

Speaking from his caravan today, Mr Stoddart said his decision to move was a desperate and determined bid to reduce the chances of him spreading the disease to his sheep.

He said: "It was a difficult decision but a necessary one because I am so determined to do everything in my power to stop foot-and-mouth devastating our livelihood.

"My wife and son have got a job on their hands running the farm, but we are part of a very close community that is determined to do all it can during a very difficult time."

The only contact he has with the outside world is when he visits the local shop, and he keeps in regular contact with the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service (UTASS) which keeps him up to date with the current crisis.

He said: "Of course it gets lonely and I miss my family but you have to make sacrifices at times like this, farming is such an important part of Teesdale that we must do all we can to protect it."

Richard Betton, a fellow Teesdale hill farmer and founder member of UTASS, said Mr Stoddart's decision to move is an example of how far farmers would go to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth.

He added: "Like a lot of farmers he is scared to death and he's doing everything he can to reduce the movement on and off his farm."

Read more about the foot-and-mouth crisis here.

Updated: 16.03 Tuesday, April 24