A GROUP of vets is advising farmers not to move any livestock near the area hit by the new outbreak of foot and mouth.

The Craven Veterinary Association, which includes two vets' practices in Clitheroe and one in Colne as well as Settle and Skipton, has issued the warning to try to stop the disease spreading.

They say even farmers outside the area currently affected by the outbreak should avoid all movement of livestock.

Officials from the Ministry of Agricultire, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) say up to 2,000 animals will have to be slaughtered as a result of the latest cases of the disease, which has affected farms on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Livestock at Manor House Farm, in Paythorne, near Clitheroe, was culled on Saturday and animals at six other farms in the area also face slaughter.

A spokesman for the Craven Veterinary Association, which held an emergency meeting on Monday night, said: "In view of the escalating foot and mouth disease outbreak we strongly advise all our clients, for the benefit of the general farming community, not to move any animals under local or long distance licences for the next three weeks, even if their premises lie outside the ministry imposed Settle special area.

"The public should also continue to observe footpath closures and disinfection protocols and avoid contacts with livestock farms."

Meanwhile, officials at Hyndbourn Borough Council have expressed their concern at the situation and have issued a reminder that all footpaths in the borough crossing farmland are still closed.

A farmer who allowed his field to be used for a car boot sale a day after foot and mouth was confirmed in Paythorne has cancelled all his future sales. Robin Boothman of Lower Higham, said he checked it was all right with MAFF before allowing the sale to go-ahead, but now he has cancelled all the remaining sales for the rest for the year.

A Hyndburn spokesman said: "It is essential that the public of Hyndburn accept the imposed restrictions for an extended period in order to safeguard the farming community and in order that farm animals can still be seen in the vicinity for years to come."

Residents concerned about the possible spread of the foot and mouth virus contacted the Lancashire Evening Telegraph when they spotted the sale on the field off Greenhead Lane, Fence.

Factory worker Florence Tomlinson, of Colne Road, Reedley, was walking on the road when she saw the sale. She said: "There was a carpet across the entrance to the field but it was covered in mud from the vehicles."

Director of services at Pendle Council John Kirk said: "I have written the landowner a letter strongly advising him not to do it anymore and postpone any future ones until the risk factor of foot and mouth is substantially less."

Mr Boothman said: "I have not earned any money for three months and I have got bills coming in and I thought this was a way of earning some money.

"I am a farmer and my main concern is foot and mouth, I think the people that complained are using that an an excuse.

"We had clearance from MAFF that it was fine to have the sale and the carpet had disinfectant on it.

"We have dairy cattle on the farm but they have not been in that field this year it is used for silage."