MANY East Lancashire farmers could face financial ruin following the latest outbreak of foot and mouth, a leading auctioneer has warned.

The farming industry across Lancashire is in a state of lockdown following the ban on animal movements in the wake of Wednesday's outbreak in Egham, Surrey.

The latest case has brought fear to the the farming community as it heads towards the traditionally busy Autumn period.

This is usually the time of year when many sheep farmers and other producers sell large quantities of livestock through the cattle markets.

Sheep farmers will be hit particularly hard because Autumn is the time they mainly sell breeding ewes accompanied by their lambs through the auction system.

All farmers face a tough time as the markets remain closed and they are not able to recoup much needed income.

Richard Turner, who runs Gisburn Auction Mart, said the news could not have come at a worse time.

He said: "This latest outbreak is devastating.

"The August outbreak was damaging to the industry with the loss of the export trade and saturation of the home market coupled with having to concentrate two month's of store markets and breeding sales into one month.

"This was further restricted by the six day movement stranglehold imposed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs .

"We now face a bleak autumn and a large percentage of the farming industry will be on the poverty line before Christmas.

"Even if this outbreak is contained, primestock will not move to slaughter for over a week, slaughter markets will not operate for another three weeks and it will be well into October before store markets and breeding sales can operate.

"Farmers are facing extra costs holding livestock on farms which should have gone to market, primestock is spoiling, export markets are lost and the home market is going to be saturated with unsaleable meat causing a free fall in farm gate market prices. "

Cattle markets had started to re-open in the last week following the first outbreak but the latest foot and mouth scare has once again shut them down.

Lancashire County council bosses have imposed the conditions and bosses are urging the public to report anyone who breaks the ban.