Spectre of virus returns to Dales

25 September 2001



Spectre of virus returns to Dales

By Nigel Burnham

OVER 1000 animals have been slaughtered at a farm near Settle amid fears that foot-and-mouth disease has returned to the Yorkshire Dales.

Vets were called to W Sutcliffe and Sons Home Farm, at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, at the weekend after suspicious symptoms were detected.

This led to the slaughter on suspicion of 190 cattle and 850 sheep on Sunday and Monday (23-24 September).

Horrified Yorkshire Dales farmers are now awaiting blood tests to see if the virus that has already wreaked havoc around Settle is back.

Horton is well known as the base for walkers exploring the legendary Three Peaks -Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent.

If confirmed, it will be the first case in the area since 25 July, when livestock were destroyed at a farm seven miles away in Giggleswick.

The last case in North Yorkshire was confirmed on 18 August at a farm near Whitby.

Philip Sutcliffe, who helps run the family business, said that he became concerned about the animals on Saturday when he noticed some were not eating properly.

“We called the vets to be on the safe side and to safeguard the rest of the community,” he said.

“We were absolutely stunned. We took a lot of pride in our stock and are keeping our fingers crossed that the blood tests prove negative.”

A Defra spokeswoman said: “We are very concerned that the disease may have returned to the Horton-in-Ribblesdale area but cannot confirm anything until we have the results of the blood tests.”