THE Citizen has come to the rescue of Blackpool FC boss and farmer Karl Oyston this week -- by putting him in touch with Lancashire RSPCA who have pledged to assist any Lancashire farmer who needs help with food supplies during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Reports earlier in the week stated that the Lancaster-based Karl was facing a lambing crisis with more than 1,000 sheep wintering in Fylde fields that cannot be moved back to base to give birth due to MAFF restrictions.

Karl said of the latest development: "That's wonderful and any offer of help is most appreciated. At the moment we are having real problems with lambing and the movement restriction, but the main welfare issues are lack of space and food. Any assistance would help us out immensely.

"Now if we could just get MAFF to lift the D restriction, so we can move just two lots of sheep, there would be enough space for the rest. I am also applying to put some sheep through the slaughter licence.

"As for the lambing, a more practical solution is letting a shepherd we know -- from a family whose farms have been wiped out by foot-and- mouth -- come down to Lytham and provide accommodation for him while he helps us out."

Chief Inspector of Lancashire RSPCA, Brian Jeffries, said: "We have been offering varying degrees of assistance and inspectors have even helped out with lambing in some parts of the country.

"We are working constantly with MAFF and feel the current waiting time for licenses of two to six days is still too long. It's a fine balancing act.

"There are a lot of farmers in a similar situation as Mr Oyston. We are extremely concerned from a welfare point of view and will offer help and guidance so that no animal suffers in an unacceptable situation. But there is no tighter knit community than the farming community and I'm sure there will be a neighbouring farmer who can also help out.

"The RSPCA has already made an offer to any Lancashire farmer that we will assist with food deliveries etc and that is up and running."

Animal sanctuaries in the area are also feeling the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak. Easterleigh Animal Sanctaury, on Queensway, St Annes, is still closed and volunteer Lee Scott said: "We have goats, sheep and pigs here among our rescue animals. They are confined to pens at the moment and we have had to lay off our Beneast trainees who come for work placement.The rubbish hasn't even been collected for five weeks and we have to disinfect everything.

"We rely totally on voluntary contributions and the public has responded wonderfully by donating food and cheques.

"But our concern is that some of Karl Oyston's sheep are in a neighbouring field and they have broken through on to our land. If they have to be culled what will happen to our animals?"

A MAFF spokesperson said there are no plans for a cull in the Lancashire area adding: "There are only eight confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth in Lancashire and none in the Lytham St Annes area. So there will be no firebreak policy of culling as called for in Cumbria by Agriculture Minister Nick Brown this week.

"We do sympathise with Easterleigh and they are not alone in their fears, but there must be some perspective put on to this."

NO GO AREA: Warning signs at the entrance to Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary