SCORES of events in East Lancashire have been cancelled and lives disrupted in a bid to halt the further spread of foot and mouth disease.

Refuse collections have been changed with council workmen no longer picking up from farms, farmyards or cottages within farmyards in the Withnell area. A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokesman said refuse would have to be taken to the nearest public highway where it will be collected until fears subside.

Chorley Borough Council -- near to where the outbreak is feared -- is doing the same while Ribble Valley Borough Council has cancelled all collections to farms for the time being.

The council has also announced Witton Country Park, off Buncer Lane, Blackburn, would be closed until further notice as it borders working farms. Sports facilities will remain open but signs are to be erected barring the public from other parts of the park. Other parks in the borough will stay open.

As part of wider measures across the county, the RSPCA shelter, in Altham, is considering shutting to the public because of the risk. The shelter, on Whinny Hill Road, is home to two sheep and a two-week-old lamb which could become infected if the highly contagious disease is brought in.

Steve Carpenter, who has hand-reared the lamb on four-hourly feeds since it was born, said he didn't want to lose any of the animals.

He said: "At the moment we are using straw footbaths into the stable yard where they are housed.

"It's difficult to know what to do for the best because if we shut it will stop other animals being re-homed. The news about Withnell is very worrying."

The shelter also rents land to a farmer who has about 90 sheep.

Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, in Turn Village, has locked its gates and taped off entrances, refusing to allow visitors to see its rescued animals.

Estate manager Bill Holden said: "We took the decision on Thursday because we have a lot of cloven-hoofed farm animals and we thought it was the sensible thing to do -- we just can't take the risk."

He said as soon as the Ministry of Agriculture lifts the ban on the movement of livestock the sanctuary will reopen.

Only Foals and Horses Sanctuary, in Oswaldtwistle, has notices up warning about the disease.

And North East Lancashire Ramblers' Association has cancelled all walks until further notice.

The annual Holcombe Hunt in Whittingtham, near Kirby Lonsdale, has been cancelled due to foot and mouth. Joint master of the hunt George Dickinson, said it was the only course of section in the circumstances.

The disease is even effecting anglers who are being urged not to fish the rivers in East Lancashire.

Gerry Lee, of the Hyndburn and Blackburn Angling Society, said: "We think it is the best action to take in order to stop the spread of this virulent disease.

"At the moment, though, we are only advising people not to fish rivers."

Tomorrow's Chepstow horse race meeting in South Wales has become the latest to be abandoned due to the outbreak.

The racecourse falls within an exclusion zone set up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Farms.