The Government's chief vet today (March 19) received a slow hand clap when he met angry farmers opposed to the foot-and-mouth cull.

Jim Scudamore was given a cool reception by Cumbrian farmers as he tried to defend the pre-emptive slaughter of up to 500,000 healthy livestock.

Farmers in the North West - one of the worst hit areas - have threatened to barricade themselves in their farms to stop the killing of healthy animals.

As the number of UK cases rose to 326 today, Mr Scudamore warned the outbreak would be far more severe than the eight-month 1967 crisis.

Environment Minister Michael Meacher admitted the country was in the grip of a "national emergency".

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said it could take at least three months to ensure livestock were free of the disease once the outbreak had been halted.

And National Farmers' Union president Ben Gill said the restriction on animal movements, especially sheep, was likely to continue until the end of the year.

The warnings are a hammer blow to beleaguered farmers and a tourist industry that has lost millions since the crisis began.