FARMER Sid Bowers has defended the decision to slaughter his animals despite news this week they were free of foot and mouth.

Mr Bowers called in vets from MAFF two weeks ago after discovering blisters on the mouths of a number of sheep.

Some of the sheep also had high temperatures, and the decision was taken to slaughter the entire stock on suspicion of having the virus.

In just four hours a total of 207 sheep and lambs, 34 cattle and 13 pigs and piglets were put to death at Bell Farm, North Rode, before being burned on a pyre.

Blood tests were taken from some of the animals, mainly sheep, and were sent for analysis to a laboratory in London.

Mr Bowers was told on Tuesday lunchtime that the samples had proved negative for foot and mouth disease, which had struck at two farms at Astbury.

He still supported the decision to carry out the pre-emptive cull, and said the news provided some comfort.

"It's a bit of comfort knowing I have not created any danger for any of my neighbours," said Mr Bowers.

"If I had not called in the vets for several days, and it was foot and mouth, it would have affected all the animals locally.

"I could not have lived with myself if that had happened, and the slaughter was the right decision at the time."

By Ian Ross