THE Rural Affairs Department's divisional veterinary manager for Lancashire is to look into a number of foot and mouth issues following meetings with the NFU, countryside rangers and the police.

Rob Paul has been consulting with the groups at least once or twice a week at the Ribble Valley foot and mouth HQ in Gisburn.

And they have relayed any concerns to him for investigation.

High on this list was the need for a more careful guarding of carcasses prior to removal.

Concerns were also raised about a delay in slaughtering sheep on a unit adjoined to Whittakers Farm, West Bradford back in the first week of June.

They are also trying to get an animal health officer assigned to each case when the disease has been found in livestock.

DEFRA should also try raise awareness to protect the Lonk sheep breeders, most of who are in the Clitheroe and Pendle area, they say.

Mr Paul will report back at the next meeting.

There have been 32 cases in the Clitheroe area since Manor House Farm, Paythorne, was found to be infected on May 19.

No new outbreaks have been reported, however, since last Thursday.