ANIMALS buried at a second North-East farm may have to be exhumed following fears they have not been disposed of correctly.

Ministry of Agriculture officials are investigating whether the carcasses at High Hedley Hope Farm, near Lanchester, County Durham, will need to be dug up.

Stock at Colin Whitfield's farm was confirmed as having foot-and-mouth last month and contractors immediately began shooting and burying the animals, aged up to eight years.

It was not until after the burial was completed that a new ruling was brought in to say all animals aged five years and older had to be burnt to control the possible spread of BSE.

Mr Whitfield said his animals, which were not infected with BSE, had also been buried without the use of disinfectant.

"I don't know what the risk of infection coming out of the ground is," he said. "It took four days to slaughter them all and they were buried as soon as they were shot - they were still warm when they went into the ground."

If Maff decides it is necessary to exhume the cattle, then the Army will face the grisly prospect of digging up another 1,100 animals - only a short distance from the grave where 900 animals were exhumed over the weekend.

Work was completed last night on digging up the cattle and sheep buried close to an underground spring on Doug Forster's Low Houselop Farm at Tow Law. Some 48 wagon loads were needed to take the decomposing bodies about 40 miles to Widdrington.

Only one new case of the disease was confirmed in the county yesterday - at Orchard Farm in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

However, Agriculture Minister Nick Brown played down reports that the spread of the disease appeared to be slowing, saying that it will be at least a week before experts can predict if the foot-and-mouth outbreak is about to peak.

A contaminated vehicle is now thought to have been responsible for the outbreak of the disease at Ashes Farm at Ruswarp, near Whitby, some 40 miles from the nearest previous disease site.

l One of the region's best known agricultural shows has been cancelled due to foot and mouth. Leading organiser of Lanchester Show Carol Cliffe said there "was nothing to celebrate" this year. The show ordinarily attracts more than 6,000 visitors.

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