FEARS that carcases from as far afield as Devon could be dumped at Throckmorton were quashed today.

MAFF has now confirmed the pit will not be used to bury animals from outside the region after mounting pressure from the Worcestershire NFU.

MP Peter Luff yesterday said senior Ministry of Defence sources told him slaughtered animals from Worcestershire had been taken to Devon for disposal.

And he feared we would be forced to return the favour.

"After the promises made to local residents that the site would only be used for carcases from the West Midlands region, we put forward objections and have been assured that there will be no carcases brought from Devon," said Richard Jordan, Worcestershire NFU chairman.

"We appreciate all the help and support local residents have given the farming industry in Throckmorton."

County councillor Liz Tucker has now asked MAFF and the MoD to give the Throckmorton burial site to the community after it has been restored.

"The airfield is a wonderful but unused, open space," she said.

"I feel we should now look beyond the ordeal of the burials and aim to turn the site into an asset and memorial."

Trees could be planted on the burial mounds, wetlands dug and the site opened up to give surrounding villages positive long-term benefits.

"I'm proud of the way local people have accepted a distasteful disruption of their environment to help the farming community," she added.

"While I'm confident that MAFF will honour the pledges they've made to restore the site when carcase burial is done, they should recognise the way the community has co-operated and go the extra mile to create an asset for the local area."