VILLAGERS at Wyre Piddle are furious at not being informed about the plans for Throckmorton and the effects it will have on the area.

They have won a partial victory over traffic movements, however. Loaded lorries will go through the village to the airfield but empty vehicles will leave via Tilesford and Pinvin.

"We reckon there will be 50-70 vehicles a day with dead animals, and they will also have to bring in large quantities of fuel for burning cattle," Gary Robinson, the parish council chairman said.

Of the burial site he said: "I am told there is a major problem in that with such large quantities of sheep and pigs in the ground, the bugs will not work so quickly so instead of breaking down, the remains will lie there for months or even years before they decompose.

"If we have a dry summer we shall have cracks appearing in the surface and a tremendous stench.

"If we have more heavy rain, who knows what will be washed into the watercourses."

He added: "Burial would be better in smaller loads to allow decomposition to take place more efficiently."

Mr Robinson is raising the problems at his parish council meeting next Thursday when he also expects an army representative to give an update on the situation.

Sid Pritchard, managing director of Wychavon District Council, also had criticism for the situation and the way it had been handled.

"We have serious concerns about the airfield being used for this purpose but the decision, it seems, has been taken out of our hands and lies with the Government," he said.

"We have made strong representations to the Government outlining the reasons why we do not feel the site is suitable for this use.

"Not only is the airfield close to a number of homes, we feel it is wholly improper for MAFF to have taken this decision without consulting local farmers and residents.

"Our own environmental health staff will only be able to maintain a watching brief of the situation so we would be grateful for information on any specific problems that may arise."

Edward Righton, who farms next door to the site, was "disgusted" that MAFF did not tell neighbours in advance what was planned for Throckmorton.

The farmer who has 600 breeding ewes lambing in fields at Throckmorton and Bishampton, said: "I agree something has got to be done to try and eradicate foot and mouth but what assurances have I got that my stock won't be affected by the daily traffic?"

He added: "It appears MAFF can transport dead animals yet I am not allowed to take my sheep across the road to lamb them."

Another neighbour Robert Beamish, who has 70 sheep, including some rare breeds, and a dozen goats, fired off a letter to Nick Brown, Minister of Agriculture, this week, protesting at the "fiasco".

"It is not only animals that are at risk," he said.

"I have pointed out that once they light the fires they will be burning for weeks and we, and the animals, will suffer from smoke inhalation."

He pointed out that there were hundreds of seagulls, rooks and crows on the tip and they would be on the dead animals, which might have other diseases as well as foot and mouth, on the airfield and then back on to neighbouring farms.