ONE finds it difficult to believe that 40 million sheep could have been slaughtered because scientists thought they had discovered mad cow disease in sheep's brains only to discover that they had been examining cows brains instead.

Both BSE and foot and mouth have been appallingly handled from the start with scientists and government ministers giving out conflicting and often plain wrong information.

It is little wonder that the government is resisting all calls for a public inquiry because that would show just how inept they have been in dealing with the crisis.

COUNCILLOR D PEARSON, Rawstorne Street, Blackburn.