A VALE farming family, whose animals were destroyed during the foot and mouth crisis, say they have been ostracised by most of the agricultural community and sent hate mail from animal rights activists.

On March 16, MAFF officials descended on Robert and Pamela Smith's farm in Bishampton, killed more than 3,000 infected sheep and later burnt the bodies on the premises on a huge cremation pyre.

Mr Smith was traced through animal movements after he bought sheep from Northampton market - an infected site.

The culling devastated the family of six and labelled surrounding farms as an infectious area, severely restricting animal movements.

Bishampton villagers rallied around, offering help to the family and about 60 cards from well-wishers poured in, but Mr Smith said there were little words of comfort from the local farming community or support from the NFU.

"I would have thought it would have been the other way round - that neighbours would not understand but that local farmers would realise what an awful situation we were in and at least offer sympathy.

"I am every disappointed. We feel we are being ostracised through no fault of our own," he said.

"We have had abusive letters and phone calls from animal rights people who have also placed our address on the internet and warned us if we ever have animals again they will be watching us."

Mr Smith explained that he has been dubbed an animal "dealer" who drives around markets buying from one and selling to another to make quick profit.

He said: "I do buy from markets around the country but I bring the animals home and fatten them up, then they go to an abattoir.

"I am more determined now than ever before to carry on and will be buying more animals when the six months' ban is up in November.

"A farmer keeps his livestock because he's proud of producing animals for the food chain. No farmer wants to see dead animals on his farm - there is no pride in that and nothing is achieved."

Mrs Smith, a teaching assistant, said she had overheard people in shops, who did not know her, making derogatory remarks and had to answer questions from parents at the school where she works, concerned that their children might catch the infection.

Her children have also been upset with having to field queries from classmates about the infection.

She said: "We felt like lepers at the time. Animal rights activists also placed a wreath outside our gate."

The couple have four children, Harriet aged 15, Charlotte 14, Emily 12 and James 10. The two eldest went away on the day of the culling and the two youngest stayed with friends for a week. Their pet lamb was killed, as well as the family's special award-winning Belgian Texel sheep which they had reared for 15 years. The pet dog and cats escaped slaughter but were quarantined for weeks.

MAFF officials were at the farm for five weeks after the burning, minutely disinfecting every square inch of the buildings and the land, and are due to return for final checks

Mr Smith said: "MAFF offered me the choice of going on the dole or joining their culling programme - I refused both." NFU Secretary at Pershore, Ray Foster-Morrison said: "I can understand his farming neighbours' feelings to a certain extent. There are prized herds all around Mr Smith which were threatened with slaughter, and are still very much restricted. He is buying in animals to keep on a short term basis for short-term gain, however, I do not believe any farmer wants to see his animals burnt on his farm and he would not have gained financially from compensation."