NIGEL Evans is accusing the government of a 'lack of control' over plans to stop the clean-up operation on farms affected by foot and mouth.

The Ribble Valley MP has written to the Secretary of State for the Enivironment, Margaret Beckett, to highlight his concerns.

Mr Evans said: "This is another clear indicator that the Government and the Prime Minister lack control on this issue.

"This is the fault of the Government and farmers should not be punished for the Governments mistakes.

"The delay will cause further anxiety for the farming community that has been devastated by this disaster.

"The cleaning process must carry on and reassurance must be given to the farming community."

Steve Fawcett of the National Union of Farmers and who represents farmers in the Ribble Valley, said: "The farmers who have rung me this morning are dismayed about this.

"DEFRA imposed these processes on farmers, it is not farmers that are costing the Government, it is their own officials."

DEFRA estimates that the eventual cost of the clean-up could be more than £800m and that the average cost of disinfection is £104,000 per farm.