RITA Evans wrote on your Letters page on April 5 that farmers were responsible for spreading foot and mouth.

Small abattoirs have closed all over the country due to European laws, causing farmers to transport animals distances to larger abattoirs.

This is not the fault of farmers.

The spread of the virus is caused by many things, including transport, movement of infected animals, ramblers, birds and vermin, and people not taking precautions in the countryside.

The 1967 report, completed after the last epidemic of foot and mouth, stated that pyres and burning animals helped in its spread.

Money is important to farmers as they have bills to pay and they will receive a pittance for their dead animals, and nothing for the loss of their businesses.

Before criticising farmers consider where the virus came from and how adequate precautions were not taken to prevent it coming into Britain.

Our livestock industry has been put at risk of collapse and needs support.

The cure is worse than the infection, I agree.

I disagree with slaughter.

Decision not to vaccinate came from the top, not from farmers.

H WOOLDRIDGE

Buckeridge Lane, Rock