'We cannot risk more outbreaks'.

(From Hull Daily Mail)

A Leading pig farmer has come up with a plan to combat potential future outbreaks of a devastating animal disease.

Livestock farmers were shocked to learn a government-run laboratory was responsible for the 2007 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

The virus had leaked to a cattle farm from the nearby Pirbright laboratory in Surrey, where scientists work on vaccines to combat the disease.

An independent review blamed poor bio-security at the laboratory, described as "shabby and dilapidated," which led to catastrophic losses for farmers.

Now Stephen Curtis, chairman of international pig breeding company ACMC, of Beeford, near Driffield, says the laboratory should be moved offshore where it would not pose a danger.

He said: "The review report calls for a new body to run the laboratories in future, but, given the scale of the problem, is this the answer? "Also, can we trust a government that is planning to cut its animal health and welfare budget by a reported GBP121m?" Mr Curtis, whose company was badly affected by the loss of export markets as a result of the outbreak, said an entirely different approach was needed.