THE Prime Minister has optimistically announced that we are on the home straight to eradicating foot-and-mouth but we must ensure that vital lessons are learnt from the crisis.

Millions of animals have been slaughtered unnecessarily throughout this epidemic but millions more will continue to suffer every day unless we change the face of Britain's ailing agriculture.

We must end the misery that intensive farming practices, long distance journeys and live animals exports inflict.

We all have the power to contribute to the radical reforms that are needed now. As consumers, we can vote with our shopping baskets for organic or free range produce adding only a little more to our weekly bills but contributing so much to the lives of farm animals.

Compassion in World Farming believes that fundamentally reforming farming practices is long overdue and is holding a round table forum on May 24 to debate these reforms.

We cannot let the devastating images of foot and mouth leave our minds without changing our attitudes towards farming and the way we farm animals.

JOYCE D' SILVA, CIWF, (Campaigning for farm animals).