THE GOVERNMENT has bought two houses belonging to people desperate to move away from Throckmorton's foot-and-mouth burial site.

The fact that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs agreed to purchase the homes at full asking price emerged during a Commons debate yesterday.

The department said the householders had "pressing" reasons to move, adding the houses were closest to the burial site.

However, the Evening News can reveal the homes, which are currently being rented out, are located in a small courtyard development. Other owners in the courtyard have been told by the Government department that it would not buy their homes.

DEFRA has also insisted the price and saleability of houses near the site have not been affected by the burial of the 130,000 animals. However, those living close to the pits say their homes have been on the market for months and not sold.

One owner claimed people living locally had been told by estate agents that the homes could not be sold because of the pits.

Precedent deal

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said the deal had set a precedent and urged the owners to press their claims that DEFRA should buy their homes.

"I will write to each address stating that if they feel they have a strong case that should push their claim," he said.

"The same offer should be made to other residents whose homes had become unsaleable and could prove they too have a 'pressing' personal need to sell."

The Tory MP also added that a small number of residents living near the carcase pits had developed a "mystery" sore throat.

Farming Minister Elliot Moreley promised to look at each home-owners' case individually and examine the merits of each one.

"We have no legal obligation in relation to such things as house purchase, but we will look at all these cases on their merits," he said.

"We recognise at the height of a national foot-and-mouth emergency it was unpleasant for anyone living near any of these sites. However, the site is now closed, being grassed over and is being properly run and monitored.

"We have no evidence of any pollution on the Throckmorton site whatsoever."