FARMERS will have to pay up to £200 a year to join a Government scheme to dispose of dead livestock carcases.

From May 1, Worcestershire livestock farmers will be banned from ridding themselves of the bodies of dead animals - including cattle, sheep and pigs - by onsite farm burial or burning.

Under new European Union rules, carcases can only be disposed of by rendering, incineration or in hunt kennels.

Voluntary

Now the Department of the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs plans to set up a voluntary subscription scheme to collect and remove dead animals.

Farming Minister Elliot Morley said the scheme would have three payment tiers: £50 a year for small farms, £100 a year for medium-sized farms and £200 a year for large farms.

Livestock farmers can make their own arrangements to dispose of carcases.

Letters explaining the scheme and the new rules will be sent to 111,000 livestock farms.