NEWS that an independent inquiry into the foot-and-mouth outbreak will not be public has met with a cool response in Worcestershire.

Investigations into the epidemic, the prevention and control of future disease outbreaks and the future of farming have been announced by the Government.

The first inquiry's chairman will be ex-Unilever chairman Dr Iain Anderson.

But it will not have the legal status of a public inquiry, as Tony Blair concluded such an investigation would be expensive and lengthy.

People will not be forced to give evidence, as at a public inquiry.

Nicola Morris, of Eatons Farm, Tibberton, near Droitwich, feared the probe would "gloss over a lot of misdiagnosis and incompetence".

The farm's 50 cattle were earmarked for cull in the spring but MAFF backed-off when she and her husband, Andrew, objected.

"The so-called experts must listen to people like us," Mrs Morris said.

"People should jump up and down about the £2bn spent on tackling the outbreak. The truth will only come out if the public is furious at the waste."

Nicky Driver, of the Countryside Alliance in Worcestershire, said any inquiry was better than no inquiry.

"We'd have preferred it in public so the Government's failings in handling the outbreak could be seen," she said. "Nothing like this must happen again."

Worcestershire NFU chairman Richard Jordan was unavailable for comment.

The Royal Society will review the transmission, prevention and control of epidemics.

It will report next summer.

The third inquiry will be on the future of farming and food. Its report is expected by the end of the year.