IT'S perfectly understandable that residents in communities close to Throckmorton should suspect that their health problems have something to with the foot-and-mouth burial pits on the former airfield site.

We say that even though, in the relative calm of the world outside that part of the county, it's possible to believe a number of things.

It could be that the catalogue of ill-health is attributed directly to leakage from the burial site.

Or it could be linked to the stress of living in its shadow.

Or it could be connected to the tension surrounding asylum camp proposals.

Or pure coincidence.

What seems clear to us is that DEFRA should do the honest thing and ask an independent medical expert to investigate.

Residents say DEFRA has told them there's no risk to health but, when pressed, has admitted being unable to "guarantee" there's no danger.

If the department's confident in its initial response, it has nothing to lose but everything to gain in being seen to be as responsible and reassuring.

If, however, it can't guarantee there's no danger, it's their duty to establish just what the risk might be and act on the results.

The strength of villagers' claims certainly needs to be established before the asylum camp plans are submitted to Wychavon District Council.

One other thing is crystal clear. The trauma being suffered proves one of the moral points which opponents to the proposals have argued.

They've done enough for the country already. Someone else must now do their share.