A MEAT firm rocked by the mad cow disease scare today warned it could be forced to close after 100 years in business.

And bosses at Great Harwood Food Products blasted the Government as they said: We can't carry on much longer.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced plans for a scheme to slaughter cattle more than 30 months old in an attempt to restore confidence in the safety of British beef last night.

But Great Harwood Food Products, known locally as Slingers, which employs about 200 people, said it had been kept in the dark about the project and the next 24 hours were crucial to its survival.

Group accountant John Sayer said: "Everything the Government has done so far has been a shambles.

"We haven't been given any details about the slaughter scheme or how it will operate.

"If the programme is adequate then we may be okay but if the scheme is inadequate then we could be forced to cut jobs or even close all together.

"So far we have been able to ride the storm and have not had to lay anyone off but if something is not done fast we're going to be in a lot of trouble.

"The only way we can survive now is if the Government acts quickly by carrying out a slaughter programme which will result in the worldwide ban on beef being lifted.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.