FURIOUS farmers in Winsford and Middlewich face fresh fears amid allegations that foot and mouth-infected carcasses are being brought through the area without adequate safety measures.

Lorries carrying animal carcasses are travelling from all over the country to a rendering plant in Widnes - straight through Cheshire.

Farmers believe the vehicles could spread disease into the air in one of the last remaining disease-free rural counties.

Chairman of the Mid-Cheshire NFU James Bennion, a dairy farmer from Byley, said: "We are all very concerned. The fact that we weren't consulted exacerbates the opposition."

And Eddisbury MP Stephen O' Brien has been inundated with calls from terrified farmers and demanded a response from Agriculture minister Nick Brown in the House of Commons on Monday.

Mr O' Brien said: "The one suspected case in Cheshire, only two miles from my home, has been given the all-clear.

"There are terrible memories here about 1967 and farmers are appalled that they could be further at risk."

Mr Brown is expected to respond today, Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cheshire County Council has taken up the cause and gone straight to the top.

In a fax to Prime Minister Tony Blair, council leader Derek Bateman said: "We must request urgent clarification on the measures surrounding the transportation of foot and mouth-infected carcasses through the county.

"Trading standards officers, despite trying for two days, have been unable to ascertain whether these carcasses are being transported in 'sealed' vehicles as indicated by yourself on national television."

Farmer James Bennion, chairman of the Mid-Cheshire NFU, said: "It is simply not right that these lorries are coming through a clean area. They say they are justified, but in my mind it's wrong.

"The situation was supposed to be under control two days ago. If it spreads here there will be a lot of people wanting answers."