A LEADING Lancashire farmers' union representative today said the Government could face legal action if farmers were forced to pay for the clean-up operation at foot and mouth hit farms.

Thomas Binns, vice chairman of the National Farmers' Union in Lancashire, said any decision not to fork out for disinfection costs would be challenged in the courts -- probably by the union itself.

His comments came two days after the Government's decision to secondary clean-up operations -- which can take weeks and involves cleaning up the whole farm and deciding which buildings may need to be demolished -- while costs are investigated was slammed by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans. Primary clean-ups, carried out immediatley after a cull and involve washing down the main farm buildings and yards, will continue, a DEFRA spokesman said today.

Mr Binns, who lost more than 3,000 sheep and 56 cattle at his Hecklin Farm, Downham, said: "The Government has set a dangerous precedent by paying for some clean-ups and then calling a halt, in my view a very unwise move.

"I expect that if the outcome of the Government review is to decide that they cannot pay for clean-up operations, then a legal challenge could be mounted."

Officials from the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) visited Mr Binns' farm last week to prepare for the clean-up which has now been halted. The total cost is likely to be in the region of £104,000.

Lancashire has had more than 50 cases of foot and mouth with the national total standing at almost 9,000.

DEFRA confirmed this week that there would be no new secondary clean-up operations until the costs, currently thought to be running at £2million a day, were investigated.

Any clean-up operations that have already started will continue.

Tory vice-chairman Nigel Evans said earlier this week that the halt of the clean-up was "a further example of the Government's blundering over foot and mouth."

He called for the immediate reinstatement of the clean-up operation.