By JANE FIELD

A PENKETH farmer and his wife say they are living in fear of foot and mouth affecting their farm because of their close proximity to the Widnes carcass incinerator plant.

Each morning Thomas and Betty Owen, who have 500 commercial and other prize winning pedigree livestock, are checking how the wind blows with the hope that it is not in the direction of their three farms.

The couple have already been through the trauma of having a "high risk" D notice put on them by MAFF after being linked with infected cattle at a Devon market but this was removed last week after three days.

But their worries have not been eased because of their two mile proximity (as the crow flies) to the Widnes plant and feel they are at risk because of the airborne nature of the epidemic.

As reported in the Guardian, fears have already been raised in the town that trucks carrying animal carcasses have not been properly sealed.

"We go out in the morning, see which way the wind is blowing and hope for the best," said Betty, whose heartbroken family in Yorkshire have already had to have their cattle destroyed.

"We are living in limbo and are very concerned about the incinerator."

Thomas, who has won The Royal Welsh Show and prizes at the Cheshire Show for his pedigree cattle, said he could not believe it when a fellow farmer phoned him from Devon and said she was sending him up some bulls dead!

"Those infected animals should be dealt with where the outbreak is and not transported 300 miles it is ridiculous.

"I visited the plant after I received that call and I felt even worse about it.

"I have heard since that the trucks are not even sealed so that makes me worry about how sealed-in the disease is at the plant.

"At the moment the wind is blowing east but if it blows from the west we will worry even more!"

The couple are now hoping that their farm falls out of the 'Infected Area Status' served on the south of Warrington by MAFF following an outbreak at a farm in Little Leigh.