TORIES in Bromsgrove are accused of acting "irresponsibly" by erecting posters on farmland during the general election earlier this month.

County and district councillor Peter McDonald, who unsuccessfully contested the Bromsgrove constituency for Labour, claims restrictions regarding access to farmland because of the foot and mouth epidemic are still in force.

Cllr McDonald said: "The Conservatives claim to be the guardians of the countryside. But I believe they acted irresponsibly in Bromsgrove by entering farmland to put up their posters and by doing so, could have spread the terrible disease.

"I have asked the new Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs to carry out a full investigation into the matter."

But the chairman of Bromsgrove Conservative Association Peter Jarrett disagreed with Cllr McDonald and suggested his complaint had more to do with "sour grapes" at losing to Julie Kirkbride than for a genuine concern for the farming community.

He added that the association was well aware of the terrible consequences of the disease and the need to be vigilant in preventing its spread.

"We would not have entered any restricted land and did not canvas in or near any affected areas," he added.

"All the posters were put up, and repaired when they were vandalised, by local Conservative party members."

David Williams, Bromsgrove District Council's head of environmental health services addressing a health and leisure scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday June 19 had good news for councillors.

He said restrictions on and in the vicinity of a farm at Stoke Prior which had the desease early in the year had been now lifted.

A farm at Fairfield, he hoped, would be given the all clear in a couple of weeks time.