A DEVASTATED farmer has labelled ministry officials as "incompetent and insensitive" after telling him his sheep would have to be inspected - three weeks after they were slaughtered.

Major Malise Graham, of Holme House Farm, Piercebridge, near Darlington, claims Maff bosses have added insult to injury by failing to realise his sheep were culled in April.

The saga began on April 22 when a nearby farmer was confirmed as having the disease and Mr Graham was subject to a D notice.

Ministry officials then contacted him and asked him how much livestock he had and told him a vet would inspect his animals within 72 hours.

But Mr Graham claims he was not contacted until a week later when ministry officials telephoned him again to ask how many animals he had.

The following day, April 30, a neighbouring farm was confirmed with the disease and he was then told by Maff that as a dangerous contact his animals would be slaughtered.

On May 1, the Army culled all 1,260 lambs and ewes on Mr Graham's 800-acre farm.

But on May 15 he received a telephone call from a ministry vet who informed him that his animals would need to be inspected because they were subject to a D notice.

Now the 53-year-old farmer has laid the blame firmly with ministry bosses.

He said: "I couldn't believe what I was hearing when the vet said my animals would need to be looked at. I was gobsmacked and appalled.

"The men on the ground are doing a great job under extreme pressure, but the incompetence of the management is unbelievable.

"How has this been allowed to happen? How can they kill more than 1,000 animals and then call me up to say that they will be popping round to inspect them, it defies belief."

A spokesperson for Maff said the mistake had been made because Mr Graham's farm fell between two control centres, at Newcastle and Leeds.

She said: "Unfortunately Mr Graham's farm possibly fell between the cracks, and that is where the confusion may have arisen. We are very sorry for the mistake. He might want to call it incompetence on the part of Maff, but we are doing everything we can to ensure mistakes aren't made under extreme pressure."

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