ANY farmers left with the banned Cyanide-based pesticide Cymag are being urged to hurry-up and get rid of it via an authorised agent.

It became illegal to keep the deadly rabbit and rat-killing poison on December 31, 2004, ending a year's grace in enacting the ban granted by Government.

A subsidised initiative ran last year to help people properly dispose of the highly toxic capsules which release Cyanide gas on contact with moisture.

"It's pretty nasty stuff," said National Farmers' Union North West spokesman Carl Hudspith. "People should really have got rid of it by now and it hasn't been on sale for a year. It's a criminal offence to have Cymag now the ban has come in."

Anyone who still has some Cymag should contact an authorised disposal agent. The police and local authorities, including Cumbria County Council, are not responsible for its disposal. In fact, the Pesticides Safety Directorate recently complained that some people had tried to hand it over to the police.

"It is dangerous, illegal and foolish to put the police or anyone else at risk in this way," said a statement. "The police do not have breathing apparatus, gas masks or the first aid equipment needed to handle Cymag safely."

"However, any method of disposing of Cymag other than using a licensed waste contractor is also an offence, probably involving more offences related to putting people and/or wildlife and/or the environment at risk or worse."

l Cumbria's nearest licensed disposal agents are: Aztec Chemical Wastes Ltd, 0161-763-3393; Bifa, 0121-505-1616 and Shanks Waste Solutions, 0800-028-2877.