FOUR more suspected cases of foot and mouth disease were being investigated today as Lancashire became one of the most affected areas of the country.

One of the new sites is near to farmer Arthur Pooley's Ollerton Farm in Withnell -- the county's first confirmed case of foot and mouth, and another is elsewhere in East Lancashire. The other two cases are north of Preston and Lancaster.

The news came as it was revealed minstry officials were at a farm in Laneshaw Bridge today.

Pendle Council's director of services John Kirk said: "We are aware Ministry officials are checking a farm out and we expect to hear more later.

"At the moment it is purely speculation and we are awaiting the outcome of tests being carried out."

A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries spokesman said: "We are tracing movements of livestock and are checking out farms but we have no further confirmed cases as yet."

A thousand sheep at the Withnell farm and 40 at Slinger's abattoir in Great Harwood were slaughtered yesterday after the disease was confirmed at both sites.

The crisis is affecting local businesses and shops and supermarkets are increasing stocks of foreign meat. Some farmers are also keeping their children away from school to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials said the first two cases appeared to be linked through movement of animals from Ollerton Farm.

Today Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle called for interim compensation to be paid to farms involved in the crisis.

Rob Paul, MAFF'S divisional veterinary manager said all of the confirmed cases and suspected cases, apart from one, were being linked to the source of the country's very first outbreak in Northumberland and more cases were possible.

Protection zones have been put in place and neighbouring farms are being carefully checked by government vets.

Mr Pooley's slaughtered flock of 1,000 sheep were to be burned today.

A statement from Wholesale Meat Supply (Accrington) Ltd, known locally as Slinger's, said: "On Tuesday a ewe held on land across the road from the abattoir in Great Harwood began showing the classic signs of foot and mouth disease.

"The owner of the animal, a local farmer, immediately reported the suspected case to the authorities, the field was placed under restriction and samples were taken by a MAFF representative."

Sheep slaughtered in Great Harwood may also be burned today.

Mr Pooley, who has been confined to his farm for seven days, said: "I do send sheep to Great Harwood from time to time, but the sheep in that field were not mine.

"Great Harwood has been a prime suspect for foot and mouth all along as so many animals from all over the place pass through there."

The infected animal had recently given birth to a lamb and was being grazed on land owned by Great Harwood Agricultural Society. Slinger's said no animals held in the three fields had been on the abattoir site.

The land is the site of the annual Great Harwood Show.

Show chairman Geoff Hanson said Slinger's act as caretakers for the land and sometimes put animals on there before slaughter.

Rob Paul said: "The farms under suspicion are being tested and nothing is being allowed on or off. Once we have frozen the situation we still expect to get cases."

"The farmers involved are dealing with this very stoicially. They are desperately upset -- this is their lives work, but they are being extremely professional."

Meat wholesalers Bowland Foods , based within the same Wood Street complex as the Slinger Group, has been forced to bring in alternative supplies from Ireland.

Owner Jimmy Woods said no restrictions had been placed on the operations. " We are not affected at all, " he said. " We are bringing in sides of beef from Ireland and it is business as usual. "

But Mr Woods warned that shoppers would be in for a shock when they went to their butchers. " Prices are going through the roof, " he said. " Wholesale prices have already gone up between 15 and 20 per cent this week which of course has to be passed down to shoppers.

" It would appear there has been some panic-buying at butchers and we cannot get supplies out to them fast enough. "

Hyndburn Council has closed all footpaths crossing farmland.