A FARMER is taking the Government to the European courts in a bid to win compensation and an admission they were wrong to shut down his pigswill business.

Joe Myers' Hurst Green farm was closed by Government inspectors in the weeks following the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.

It is believed the epidemic spread from badly treated swill on a Northumberland farm, sparking an official directive to close farms using pigswill.

Mr Myers said the decision cost him the business he built up over 30 years as his farm is not equipped to feed animals with anything other than swill.

He was unable to move 500 pigs he already had on his farm due to foot and mouth restrictions and has not yet been able to restart the business.

Mr Myers, who has now retired but still lives on the farm, said: "Over the years, the Government has used all sorts of methods to try and get us closed down. Without any definite proof, they just shut us down when foot and mouth broke out and don't want to compensate us. I'm more worried about getting an admission from Government that they acted in haste."

He added: "Their actions effectively drove us out of business. Just because one person is considered not to be doing something in the correct way is no reason to ban it all together."

Mr Myers has joined with fellow swill farmers to create the British Association of Swill Users, which has lodged a case at the European courts.

Farming minister, Ben Bradshaw, said: "Foot and mouth had catastrophic consequences and one conclusion to be drawn is that the Government made the right decision banning pigswill."

He said the ban was put in place after untreated swill was found to have been fed to pigs at a farm in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland.

He added: "In the past, the Government has not compensated farmers when feed material was changed because of legislation and we will not set a precedent now."

He said the ban did not prevent farmers keeping pigs - but Mr Myers said he couldn't afford to install the new equipment needed.

Conservative MP Boris Johnson is championing their cause. He said the Government had brushed swill feeders aside "as people engaged in a sordid and mildly amusing activity."

He added: "They may be involved in a mucky business but that is no reason to treat them as muck.

"The Government should consider how its money would be best spent, supporting these farmers or lodging lawyers in Luxembourg."