Ledbury's new MP Bill Wiggin has urged the Government to hold a public inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak.

Mr Wiggin was making his maiden speech in the House of Commons on Tuesday, after winning the Leominster constituency seat for the Tories last month.

He said: "If we are to prevent the disease from recurring, we must first hold a full and public inquiry.

"We must ban imported meat from countries where foot and mouth is endemic and we must take any opportunity to reform the Common Agricultural Policy.

"We must end the mechanism that pays farmers to drive the length of the country, collecting old ewes for the benefit of the subsidy.

Mr Wiggin, who won the seat vacated by former Tory and new Labour Peer Lord Peter Temple-Morris, added: "We must remember that it costs the average family £15 extra a week, yet we agree that British farming does not have the chance to compete on a level playing field. We must seize every opportunity to reform the CAP."