BLACKBURN with Darwen has had its risk assessment dropped by foot and mouth officials it was announced today

But the despair for the farmers in the Ribble Valley continues as the area -- of the worst affected areas in the county -- is still deemed a "high risk."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said that as a county Lancashire was still on a high risk alert although the Blackburn with Darwen area -- one of the county's two unitary authorities -- has been dropped down to "at risk." The other unitary authority, Blackpool, has always been classed as disease free.

Announcing the news, which he called a boost to farmers, DEFRA minister Lord Whitty, said: "This means that farmers will have more options to move livestock under the autumn movement restrictions. I am glad our campaign against foot-and-mouth is continuing to bring relief to Britain's farming industry."

He added that more than 5,400 farms across the North West would benefit from a similar classification.

But farmers in the Ribble Valley are waiting to see if the ending of the so-called Thirsk biosecurity infection area -- or "blue box" -- would bring relief to them. The lifting of that restriction -- expected this weekend -- means relief for 1,561 farms in neighbouring North Yorkshire. But they have not heard if that applies to them and have called for the situation to be made clear.

The announcement came from DEFRA headquarters in London this week and regional DEFRA press officers could shed no light on the situation.

Thomas Binns, vice chairman for the National Farmers Union, in Lancashire said: "As is usually the case with DEFRA things are not as clear as they seem. It makes things very complicated for all of us and I wish there was some kind of autonomy in the north rather than listening to people from London."

Mr Binns, who lost more than 3,000 sheep and 56 cattle because his Hecklin Farm, in Downham near Clitheroe was close to a confirmed case, added the mood among farmers was still grim. He said: "There is still a lot of despair at the moment. This is the economic part of the agricultural season, when sheep and lambs are sold. It appears that DEFRA do not realise how the agricultural season works."