A RARE breed sheep farmer who lives at the centre of Wyre Forest's foot and mouth outbreak was unable to bury her mother at a local church due to the disease.

It is the latest twist in a "nightmare" situation for Leonora Parsons, who has been breeding Leicester Long Wool and Galway sheep at Glen Acre Farm in Chaddesley Corbett for 18 years.

She has been told she cannot bury her 91-year-old mother at Rushock Church, as it is next to fields where infected sheep have been culled.

Mrs Parsons is also desperately trying to save her healthy sheep from slaughter in the face of legal action from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

She has had each sheep independently blood tested for the disease by her own vet. They are facing slaughter despite negative results as a Government reprieve for healthy animals close to infected areas only covers cattle.

Her mother's wake had to be held in a nearby pub after cremation as mourners were unable to visit her house due to the foot and mouth restrictions.

Mrs Parsons the stress of the situation has been unbearable as she was living in fear of MAFF coming out to slaughter her sheep.

"I am on an isolated farm and my sheep have been locked away with no contact with other animals so I don't know why MAFF are persisting with legal action for slaughter. It makes me furious," she added.

MAFF said it was awaiting guidance from vets on how to deal with rare breeds in the face of the current crisis.

Even though Mrs Parsons has stored semen from her rams, slaughter of the flock would mean an end to 18 years' work as her only ewe would be included in the cull.

"The whole thing has been a nightmare and I am now on tablets from the doctor as a result," she added.