I WAS deeply saddened, as someone who lives in Worcestershire and works in Shropshire, to read in last night's paper (Wednesday, March 28) that we are the third worst hit area in the country for foot-and-mouth disease.

Along with many others, I am sickened by the nightly news images of mass slaughter, animals dying in fields through enforced neglect, and proposals for even more culling of healthy animals.

I believe the Government has got it horribly wrong.

There is mounting evidence in favour of a mass vaccination programme and a judicial review of the legality of culling healthy animals is imminent. Surely, in the name of humanity, vaccination is the way forward. I thought we were supposed to be a nation of animal lovers?

I have written to both Tony Blair and my (Labour) MP to tell them that I shall not be voting Labour at the next election (whenever that might be) unless the current draconian and inhumane policy is replaced by vaccination. I would urge all like-minded people to do the same.

If the animals were vaccinated, the countryside really could be "open for business" again shortly and rural life could return to something resembling normality. What price disease-free status when we have no farm animals left?

CHRISTINE MEUSZ,

Kidderminster.