WASTE tip bosses today declared themselves ready to bury culled sheep and pigs at Deerplay -- but said they would only tell people about the burials after they had been completed.

Viki Fox, spokesman for site operator Shanks Waste Disposal, said the company would not be revealing when carcasses were expected at the Cliviger landfill site.

"We do not want to attract people to the site," she said, after it was revealed protestors concerned about the plans were considering picketing the site. Miss Fox spoke after the company and Environment Agency chiefs had taken concerned villagers on a tour of the site and the newly-prepared sealed cell now ready to accept animal burials.

Local health bosses have already expressed concern about the possible affects of burials on the site.

But company bosses said measures had been taken to ensure there could be no seepage of contaminated material into spring water. Vehicles transporting the carcasses would be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. But resident Brian Nichols challenged the assurances, pointing out that foot and mouth was wind-borne and the disease could be spread as soon as the carcasses were dumped. He added: "All the farmers around here are worried. These suspect animals should not be brought to a non-infected area."

After the tour, parish council chairman said she was not convinced by the assurances on safety.

"I am simply not convinced and our parish council will be discussing the situation next week."

The company says the tip will only be used if rendering plants cannot cope with any further major outbreak of the disease. "We do not know if and when they are coming," said Shanks' area manager Donald Kershaw.

"We hope to get 24 hours notice of animals coming in."

Miss Fox said the company felt it had to agree to the ministry's request to accept animals, otherwise the site would be taken over by the government.

"This way we retain control of a site which we know and which we can manage most safely."

She said the worst case scenario was for there to be an outbreak of foot and mouth in the area after any burials had taken place.

"We know where the finger will be pointed," she told residents.