EAST Lancashire's MPs have reacted with horror to the news that foot and mouth has come to the area.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, who was born in Great Harwood close to the Slinger's site, said: "Obviously this is disastrous news. I am deeply concerned for everybody involved. We must make every effort to eradicate this appalling disease. That's the top priority.

"It doesn't just affect farmers, but has an enormous knock on effect throughout the whole community. As a national disaster it's terrifying, but when it happens in your constituency it seems even worse. I am very worried about the jobs which may be affected.

"When this terrible disease comes not just to your constituency but to your home town, you realise how appalling the consequences are."

Chorley Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle, in whose constituency Ollerton Farm is situated, said: "It's a devastating blow. This is dreadful news for local farms.Foot and mouth is a disaster for farms all over the country but it brings it home to you when its in your own constituency.

"Obviously it will have a major effect not just on farmers and I hope it cam be dealt with as quickly as possible."

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: "This is devastating news. The number of farms affected is growing daily.

"Its not just the effect on farmers, but on markets and suppliers.

"This is terrible news for the farming community in the Ribble Valley and East Lancashire but it has effects on the entire area.

"I shall be pressing the Minister of Agriculture Nick Brown to consider consequential compensation to others affected by foot and mouth. "There are many abattoirs and auction markets in the area and throughout the country that are currently operating on the margins of bankruptcy.

"If they fall through, that could have even more damaging consequences for the agriculture industry once foot and mouth disease is completely eradicated."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice says farmers should be given help to spot foot and mouth disease as early as possible, more than 30 years since the last big outbreak.

He was surprised that the Northumberland pig farmer, currently suspected of being the source of the infection, did not spot the symptoms in time.

Mr Prentice was unhappy that he and other farmers did not seem up to speed on the issue and called for educational programmes "to ensure that such a horrific disease never takes hold again because of the ignorance of the people who should be looking after animals."

He said: "Farmers are clearly the first line of defence. While they are not vets, they are closest to the animals they rear.

"It is in their interests and ours that, wherever possible, they can identify these dreadful scourges."

Greg Pope added: "Farmers have been through a dreadful time recently and many are just hanging on. Everybody will be full of sympathy for them.

"It affects hundreds of farmers and hundreds of people who rely on farming. It will have a knock-on effect into other industries such as meat processing.

"What we have to do is to isolate and eradicate the disease. It is painful but necessary an the only thing we can do."