TOP judges have delayed their decision on whether the Government should be forced into holding a full public inquiry into last year's foot and mouth epidemic that devastated the rural economy.

After a four-day High Court case brought by a group of farmers, including Thomas Binns, of Hecklin Farm, Downthorpe, near Clitheroe, in which the epidemic was described as "probably one of the greatest social upheavals since the war," the judges said they needed time to consider their ruling.

Lawyers for 12 farmers and rural businessmen say the decision to opt for a series of three private inquiries instead of giving the crisis a full public airing was 'irrational' and violated the fundamental human right to freedom of information.

Media organisations, including five national newspapers, also played a part in the judicial review challenge, defending their right to send reporters to an inquiry into the epidemic, which is said to have cost the UK economy £10 billion in all.

But Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith QC, argued a public inquiry would be backward-looking, slow, massively expensive and a jamboree for lawyers.

He pointed to the 'Bloody Sunday' inquiry in Northern Ireland, which has already been going on for four years and has, so far, cost the public purse an estimated £66million.

Lord Goldsmith added: "No member of the public has a right in law to require expenditure by the Government or Parliament of resources on such a scale."

Stephen Smith QC, who represents two of those spearheading the campaign, denied that his clients were in any way motivated by anger or a desire for retribution.