His latest article in the Knutsford Guardian gave us a far-fetched tale about the wind showering Tatton with foot-and-mouth virus 'like invisible nuclear fallout.'

He can't really believe such unfounded nonsense.

If he did, he would be wearing protective clothing sprayed with disinfectant to avoid spreading the disease as he travels around his constituency.

It is totally irresponsible to publish scare-mongering stories that have no basis in fact.

They will only cause more stress to farmers battling to keep out the horrors that the heart-rending pictures we watch show all too clearly.

They will also cause untold harm to other local rural businesses like tourism, catering, retailing and so on, by frightening off their customers.

Perhaps our MP has been infected by the ongoing alarmist statements from William Hague, who would postpone all elections indefinitely and ask the army to take control until the crisis is over.

Martin Bell wrote in his article 'This is a time, if ever there was one, for MPs to be standing up for what is right rather than what is expedient.'

In other words, he and other opposition MPs should now back the Government in their efforts to give positive support to all rural traders, including farmers.

The constant carping we are currently seeing in this time of crisis does no-one any credit whatever.

LAURIE BURTON

Chairman, Tatton Labour Party

Albert Street