TORY MP Nigel Evans has blasted the Government in the wake of the new beef-on-the-bone ban which came into force at midnight.

The Ribble Valley MP met a delegation of angry North West farmers at the House of Commons yesterday.

Afterwards he declared: "They've banned beef on the bone even though there's more chance of you being hit by a meteor than dying of BSE.

"The Government must listen to our farmers before it is too late."

His views were echoed by local butchers who are having to refuse the public what they want.

"We sold double the amount of T-bone steaks and ribs of beef and three times the amount of ox tails in the last few weeks," said Keith Pickup, a butcher on Blackburn's three-day market.

"This will help supermarkets because they sell pre-packed meats and very little beef on the bone.

"It's so frustrating when you think there is a one in 50 million chance of getting BSE and yet anyone can go and buy a packet of cigarettes and smoke them in front of their kids."

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