By JANE FIELD

A WOOLSTON farmer has hit out at the lack of respect for his efforts to keep the risk of foot and mouth disease away from his farm.

Dennis Picton, of Rosebank Farm, Juniper Lane, is asking people to stay away and heed the notices both he and the borough council have erected.

The council has closed the footpaths around the farm but Mr Picton, who lives on the arable and livestock farm with his wife and two sons, says they are being blatantly ignored and vandalised.

He says the straw mats he has also put down and bowl of disinfectant as precautionary measures have been vandalised and kicked away.

"I am trying my best to keep this disease at bay," he said.

"As far as I am concerned you cannot be too careful and not enough is known yet about where this disease came from.

"The theory that it could have risen from the floods is a very scary prospect and I do not want to take any chances. If the disease gets on the land it is possible it could break out again.

"People just don't seem to understand and I am disgusted at the lack of respect.

Warrington Borough Council says generally the precautions have been heeded by the public across the district. Mr Picton's situation has been referred to the police.

Anyone who is caught walking on a council-closed footpath could be fined up to £5,000.