NORTHWICH farmers' worst fears have been realised with an outbreak of the catastrophic foot and mouth disease hitting the area.

Animals at six farms in the Little Leigh area have been slaughtered after the disease took hold at the weekend.

And farms in a 10 kilometre radius are in the grip of a controlled zone under close observation by vets.

A MAFF spokesman said: "We must contain this incident to protect other farmers and Cheshire's tourist industry.

"We are reacting immediately and the army is due to arrive on Wednesday to help curb the spread."

The dreaded tell-tale signs of infection were first seen by Malcolm Evans, a beef farmer at Desley Heath Farm, on Saturday morning.

MAFF vets confirmed the disease had taken a stranglehold at 6pm the same day and within 48 hours his entire herd of 100 cattle and nine sheep had been destroyed and buried.

Mr Evans, 57, who has lived at the farm all his life, said he is so devastated that he is quitting farming.

"On Sunday I just sat down and cried," he said.

"Some of the animals were like pets. They would come up and give you a kiss. It's like losing children.

"I could not bear to watch the slaughter and burial. It's the worst nightmare come true.

"It is the final straw. After all the problems in recent years I am finished in farming."

Officials from MAFF are trying to establish how the disease leap-frogged 20 miles to a farm with no known links to other outbreaks.

Mr Evans added: "We've been so careful in laying down disinfectant and doing everything we should.

"There has been no movement to the farm and no new livestock since December. I just can't understand where it came from. "