WORRIED farmers across East Lancashire have backed calls for older cattle to be destroyed to renew public confidence in British beef.

A crisis meeting of farming representatives held at the National Farmers' Union regional headquarters in Skelmersdale yesterday, agreed that a selective carcase disposal scheme should be the focal point of any government steps to restore consumer confidence.

They were endorsing the NFU proposal for a disposal plan for older cattle in the national herd.

The policy adviser for the North West NFU, Rodney Bacon, said: "The NFU feels that the debate has moved on from that of science and scientific evidence into the realms of pure public perceptions of the safety of British beef. "Clearly, with public confidence at such a low ebb, we need to do something demonstrable to show the public that we are prepared to go that extra mile to ensure the safety of our product." The meeting also urged farmers and all sections of the beef industry to lobby their local MPs for a speedy introduction of the scheme.

Other measures farmers want include the destruction of all meat in the market which is in excess of current demand, with compensation for owners.

James Townsend, from Colne, said: "It is becoming obvious that we are going to have to kill something to keep going and hopefully win confidence back.

"The first step would be to take the older cows out of the food chain and then, every week when they came to markets up and down the country, to slaughter them with compensation for the farmers.

"Apart from that, I just don't know what is going to happen."

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