A FARMER from Lowick Bridge says the suspension of the foot-and-mouth cleaning and disinfection work has put his plans to re-stock back by at least four weeks.

John Sutcliffe, of Bridgefield Farm, has hit out at what he sees as the Government spin that surrounded the decision to re-start the cleaning processes, saying that two weeks later he still knows no-one who is undertaking the work themselves who has been given the all-clear to resume the cleaning.

He was told that the delay in issuing the contracts, which allow farmers to re-start the cleaning and disinfection work necessary before they can re-stock, is due to the sheer number of contracts and the time it takes to process them.

Mr Sutcliffe said officials had told him that his contract should be with him by next week, but that still means he will have lost a month's worth of work due to

the suspension.

"It is totally frustrating," he said.

"All C and D work is still on hold."

Mr Sutcliffe, who lost 144 pedigree cattle, 80 pedigree pigs and 500 pedigree sheep to the disease in April, is keen to re-stock, and has already made arrangements to take new animals, although these plans have had to be put on hold.

"It's going to mean we're delayed by potentially a month, and I don't know when we are going to be able to continue - it's taken a good month out the C and D process."

Mr Sutcliffe raised his concerns about at a farm business recovery seminar at Newby Bridge.

Ian Fugler, regional director of operations for DEFRA, said staff were in the process of agreeing a schedule of works for individual farms.

He said that he knew at least 200 farms where the work had been re-started, and that 300 contracts had been sent out since last weekend for farmers to sign and send back.

Mr Fugler said he hoped that by the end of this week the "vast majority" of farmers needing to do the C and D work would have been contacted.

He also stressed that there was no way the standard of cleaning work would be dropped.

"The last thing we are going to do is to reduce C and D standards and incur the risk of the disease returning," he said.

l A Farm Business Recovery helpline has been set up by DEFRA for farmers in Cumbria to contact for information about the sources of help and advice available.

Call 0845-6015062.