NFU anger over virus link to lab

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Speaking outside No.10, where he had been meeting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, the union's president Peter Kendall said all efforts must now focus on containing the outbreak.

Mr Kendall said "my members are angry and very very concerned" about speculation linking the virus to research facilities in Pirbright.

Tests are currently being carried out to see whether the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak at a nearby farm can be traced back to the laboratories run by Merial Animal Health or the Institute for Animal Health.

But Mr Kendall also said he had been "very impressed" with the Government's response, which saw both Mr Brown and Mr Benn cutting short their holidays to deal with the crisis.

Mr Kendall said the issue of vaccine research posed a "difficult dilemma" for farmers.

He said: "We all need good science, we need to have vaccines being produced. But it cannot be the case that we have a scientific institution that actually releases diseases into the environment.

"We need to find a way of making sure it never ever happens again."

He said Monday morning's meeting with Mr Brown was positive and there was "a lot of time to be able to talk through these obviously very worrying issues".

He said the outbreak had been a blow to an industry which has made "tremendous strides" since the 2001 epidemic. He said: "To have these negative pictures is a real concern. We want this stamped out and controlled and life getting back to normal as soon as possible."