A FARMER'S livelihood hung in the balance today as Laneshawbridge remained at the centre of investigations into a new outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food have put up signs at Far Laithe Farm and Lower Emmott Farm warning that animals are under observation.

As cattle farmer John Whittaker waited for news, it was revealed that a suspected case of the disease had also been found in Great Harwood, where one suspected incidence has already been confirmed.

And some butchers began warning that they were running out of stock because of restrictions on slaughtering and movement of animals.

More than 1,000 sheep went up in flames as government officials burned East Lancashire's first victims of the foot and mouth outbreak last night.

But the funeral pyre at Arthur Pooley's Ollerton Farm in Withnell could be the first of many blazes in the area as Ministry of Agriculture chiefs warned there is no way of knowing how many more cases of the contagious virus could come to light.

The blaze started as Slinger's abbatoir in Great Harwood -- at the centreof the second confirmed case in the area -- said it hoped to soon resume production after a nearby outbreak earlier in the week. And Muslim leaders warned the crisis "will be a problem" for those who carry out the ritual slaughter of animals as part of the Eid celebrations on Monday (March 5).

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "I am keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't true. We really don't want it in Pendle.

"It would be a disaster for farmers in the area if it does turn out to be a confirmed case."

"The disease seems to be taking hold."

Mr Whittaker said he did not know the outcome of the observations yet but he was taking precautionary measures such as disinfecting the area and laying down straw at the farm gates.

Pendle Council director of services John Kirk said: "We are still waiting for the Ministry to inform us of the outcome of their tests, we still do not know.

"The longer it goes on the more likely it is that the farm will be clear."

The farm is in part of the Laneshawbridge ward represented by former Pendle Mayor Coun Jo Belbin. She said: "It is a very worrying time and we just hope and pray that it is not confirmed.

"My husband looked out of the window today and said what a glorious day he would love to go for a walk but is worried to do so.

"It must be a nightmare for the farmer. It is their livelihood we are talking about."

Burnley Council has announced it is cancelling all amateur football games in Burnley and Padiham and Burnley Football Club has closed its training ground at Gawthorpe Hall which is near to farm land.

A resident living near to the farm said she did not want to comment until she knew whether the case had been confirmed. She said that one of the farmer's animals had been ill.

She said: "I know he sent a sample off but I think he would have heard and they would have sealed off his farm by now if it had been confirmed."

MAFF officials are still investigating four suspected cases of the virus and today confirmed one of those is in the Great Harwood area, and another is also in East Lancashire.

Butcher John Haffner, who has run the family business Haffner's for the past 20 years at Keirby Walk and Burnley Market, said: "We will run out of pork today and probably out of lamb.

"We have enough beef stocks to last us next week and I have enough pork for manufacturing to keep making sausages."

Brian Beech, whose family has run Beech's in Gisburn Road, Barrowford, since the 1960s said: "About 40 per cent of my customers have been buying and extra weeks supply to put in the freezer as a standby in case things don't get better.

"We managed to stock up before this happened but we are probably going to have a problem with lamb soon."