IT was exactly 12 months when farmers first heard the news they were all were dreading - foot and mouth had reached the county.

The rural community was already on tenterhooks as farms across the country fell victim to the devastating disease. In late February 2001 government officials confirmed that Ollerton Farm, in Withnell, was contaminated. Foot and mouth had started in Lancashire.

The following months saw the number of confirmed cases stack up, as did the carcasses of the culled animals. The sight -- and smell -- of funeral pyres became a common sight.

Only now are villages and individuals starting to recover -- thanks, in part, to the government.

Secretary of State for the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Margaret Beckett, addressing a conference of the National Farmers Union earlier this month, praised the department for the way it worked together to eradicate the disease, and said the government was doing all it could.

She said: "I am delighted that we have made faster progress than any of us might have hoped for even a few weeks ago. We have begun to be able to ease those movement restrictions.

"I don't need to tell you that risks remain and we must not lower our guard.

"I ask for your tolerance in accepting a steady, practical, cautious approach on these issues.

"We are committed to working with the NFU to move as speedily and effectively as we can to restore our markets."

Mrs Beckett added that she was "personally committed" to working for a successful rural economy with, at its heart, a successful profitable and respected food and farming industry, which is highly regarded both at home and internationally."

And she said that in the coming weeks, the government would begin a process of discussion to develop a "comprehensive and sustainable new strategy for food and farming."

She said: "Before Easter we will publish a steering document which will guide how we take the process forward over the coming months."

Mrs Beckett acknowledged that there was a "strong possibility" that foot and mouth may have entered the country in an imported animal product -- probably meat, and quite possibly illegally imported.

And she said that DEFRA, together with the NFU, were committed to stop it happening again.

She said: "No one disputes that we must make every effort we can to try to prevent illegal imports.

"Much has been done on this -- but much of it "behind the scenes" and so not has been very evident. If the source of a major problem is smuggling then there has to be effective intelligence.

"So we have not only strengthened the information gathering procedures, we have also strengthened the information sharing with all, and between, enforcement bodies, particularly local authorities and Customs.

"This has given us a much better picture of the extent and scope of potential illegal imports."

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