ANGRY East Lancashire farmers today renewed appeals for an official public inquiry into the foot and mouth crisis after a report rebuked the Government for being caught on the hop.

The National Audit Office, which monitors Government spending, has revealed the crisis cost the taxpayer £3billion and the private sector more than £5billion.

Farmers in the Ribble Valley, severely affected by the outbreak, still want a public inquiry.

And Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has accused the Government of shocking complacency and incompetence in light of the report's findings.

Foot and mouth was confirmed at an abattoir in Essex last February and by September had caused the slaughter of over six million animals.

Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, said lessons had to be learned from the crisis to ensure the country was better prepared in future.

Ribble Valley farmer Thomas Binns, deputy chairman of the Lancashire branch of the National Farmers' Union, welcomed the report and said the farming industry was still reeling from the crisis.

Over 3,300 sheep and cattle at his Hecklin Farm in Downham were slaughtered during the outbreak and he accused the Government of reacting too slowly.

"It's hard not to be cynical. A lot of people in the local farming industry feel the crisis could have been handled a lot better.

"The Government was faced with a difficult task, but reacted far too slowly. It wasn't until two months into the outbreak that there were enough vets.

"A lot of farmers are still in shock and we are owed the complete truth about the matter. We want an independent public inquiry," he said.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "The shocking complacency and incompetence of the Government in its mishandling of the foot and mouth outbreak caused undue and unnecessary distress for many people.

"The Government created a disaster out of a crisis and it is clear why it does not want an independent inquiry in light of this damning report."