A DECISION on whether to use vaccination in the fight against foot-and-mouth is imminent, the Government's chief scientific advisor said yesterday.

Professor David King was speaking after meeting farmers in Cumbria, many of whom were doubtful about the scheme, which local MP David Maclean warned could earn the county pariah status.

There were 17 new cases of the disease confirmed in Cumbria, and 21 nationally, yesterday.

The Conservatives accused the Government of "dithering" over vaccination after Junior Agriculture Minister Baroness Hayman insisted that vaccination remained only a contingency plan.

After meeting the Cumbrian farmers, Prof King said he would consider the opinions expressed before reporting to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The proposed vaccination campaign would be limited to about 500,000 cattle over-wintering in barns in Cumbria and Devon, which are soon due to be moved on to pasture.

Prof King said that the innoculations, which could be completed in ten to 14 days, would not replace the slaughter policy.

He said: "This slaughter policy has been very effective and must continue to be our major policy. What we are discussing here is a supplement to that to simply keep cattle alive in Cumbria."

The Carlisle meeting heard demands from farmers for the Government to provide written assurance that it would compensate farmers for any drop in the market price of their produce, in the event of vaccination.

Shadow agriculture minister Tim Yeo said: "The longer the Government dithers over vaccination, the more their failure to control foot-and-mouth disease is exposed."

Meanwhile, North-East tourist attractions reported steady business over the weekend.

Newcastle Airport said more than 30,000 passengers passed through its gates, an increase of 74 per cent on last Easter.

The North Yorkshire coast continued to be one of the region's hotspots as did Darlington's railway museum, the fun fair at Hartlepool and Stockton's Preston Park

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