A CATTLE market which closed during the foot-and- mouth epidemic will not be reopening today as planned.

Darlington Farmers' Auction Mart officials had hoped to hold their first sale since it closed a year ago.

But because of delays by the Government, the opening has been put back to February 28, although auctioneers have been told that date is also not definite.

Many marts have experienced delays because they have had to complete application forms and wait for a licence to be sent out.

The premises also have to be inspected by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials before a licence is issued.

The Government has also sent out strict guidelines for marts, and some have been confused by the strict bio-security rules.

George Potts, of the Darlington Farmers' Auction Mart, said: "We had hoped that we would open on Monday, but this has been put back to February 28.

"Hopefully, we can open then, but this date is not set in stone. It is ongoing at the moment. We have got guidelines from the Government. There is a huge guidance paper that they have sent out on what we have to do. I had that for two weeks, then amendments came out of that. Then there were amendments to the amendments, so it has been hard.

"I wish I was down there doing the auction now, but it will have to wait."

Guidelines that have been sent out include farmers changing into clean clothing when they set off for the mart after loading their stock, and disinfecting their wagons before loading.

Only slaughter markets will be allowed to take sheep and pigs.

John Earle, who works at the Darlington mart, said: "There is going to be more bio-security and much more paperwork to be completed by all concerned. We welcome the fact that things are going to be safer, but we hope that regulations will be workable."

The auction mart is assuring farmers that it will be business as usual when it does open.