PEOPLE living near Throckmorton airfield could today discover whether slaughtered animals are to be burned at the site.

Conservative MP Peter Luff last week tabled more than 20 Parliamentary questions about the use of the airfield for the disposal of animals killed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The most pressing was a demand that animals should only be buried at the site - not burned.

Mr Luff has still not received the answers and yesterday pressed Agriculture Minister Nick Brown in the Commons.

"The disease seems to be growing very fast in Worcestershire and that is a cause for considerable concern," he said.

"That's probably one of the reasons why residents in the vicinity of the airfield site are not objecting to the principle of burial - despite the fact there was absolutely no consultation with them.

"However, could he please ensure the 25 or so Parliamentary questions that I have tabled on the site are answered rapidly?

"Could he also, please, give me an assurance there will be no burning of animal carcases whatever at the site?"

Mr Brown said he was doing his best to answer the questions "rapidly and accurately", but it was "not easy".

He said if it was possible to give Mr Luff the reassurance he was seeking, he would do so "within the next day".

Other issues raised by Mr Luff include the length of time it will take for the buried animals to decay, how animals will be transported to Throckmorton for burial and what will be done to prevent the spread of disease.

He also wants to know what assessment has been made of the impact the burial.

Coffee chain plea

CANCER Charity the Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund is turning to "urbanites" for cash, fearing the foot-and-mouth crisis will affect fund-raising.

The charity's annual Coffee Chain is expected to suffer because a lot of coffee mornings are organised by farmers' wives.

Anyone in Worcestershire interested in helping out can ring Jeanne Ramsbottom on 01242 535 900.