THE devastating effects of foot-and-mouth on farmers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are just starting to be felt, according to a study by Herefordshire County Council.

The report says a total of 165,224 animals were slaughtered in the two counties. Seven per cent of those were killed on suspicion and more than 63 per cent of the cattle slaughtered were not even on infected premises.

The virus is thought to have been transported by wind, vehicles' wheels, people, dogs, cats, vermin and wild game.

The report says farmers have suffered either because their animals have been slaughtered or because cattle markets have closed down. This has had a knock-on effect and other agricultural businesses have suffered as demand for their goods and services disappeared. Tourism and leisure industries were also hit hard by the ban on visits to the countryside.

The Government is said to be looking at ways to reduce the hardship caused to farmers and other rural businesses and drawing up packages of compensation and relief.

However, the report concludes by saying the process of recovery will be a long one and cannot start until the outbreak is well and truly over.