THE re-opening of livestock markets in February has been welcomed by farmers in the Malvern area.

But there is also widespread criticism for the length of time taken to make the decision.

Lord Whitty of Camberwell, parliamentary under-secretary for the environment, food and rural affairs, confirmed last week that markets would resume under new bio-security rules, with general rather than individual licensing arrangements and more sheep movements.

"I'm very pleased it's happening but it's not before time," said Roger Clements, of The Spinney, Upton-upon-Severn.

"It's very difficult when the markets are closed to know what prices to charge for your cattle. I think the Government have really been dragging their feet."

George Price, of Braces Leigh Farm in Newland, agreed that the Government had been slow to act and wondered why they could not be opened even sooner.

He said: "I think they could be opened in January because by then the 90-day period after the last case will have gone.

"Having the markets closed has been very hard for us because we haven't known what to charge for our cattle. I don't think we've been getting the full value.

Gordon Gilbert, of Lower House Farm, Canon Froome, said: "We have not got details of exactly what it will include but obviously it's something we've been waiting for for a long, long time. Hopefully, it's the beginning of the end of a lot of our problems."

He said he thought the Government had acted as quickly as it could in the face of pressure from the EU.