A HIGHER Whitley farmer has expressed his frustration after becoming a virtual recluse in his own farm since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

David Johnson, who is 32, and runs Greenhills Farm, Greenhills Lane, has 80 cattle, which include 40 milking cows.

Mr Johnson has described what life has become for himself and his family. No-one is allowed on to the farm except the vet and the milk tanker.

He said: "Everyone has to phone before they can come over and the postman has to leave the letters in the drive.

"But I am very grateful to all the people that have stayed away and the messages of support have been very welcome, but I still feel disappointed.

"We feel very isolated in the middle of north Cheshire and it's frightening as well. Every time you look at your stock a lump comes in your throat.

"You think you've had such a tough time in the past few years and not a day goes by when you don't think of giving up, but now we are pulling out all the stops to try to protect the animals."

The 1967 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease missed Greenhills Farm, but infected neighbouring farms.