A FARMER has been forced to watch his cattle in Cutnall Green destroyed after his other stock grazing four miles away was found to be infected with foot-and-mouth.

MAFF officials admitted there had been no confirmed infection in the village near Droitwich, but stated "dangerous contact" as the reason for slaughter.

The owner is Robin Feakins, the brother of Kevin Feakins whose farm at Llancloudy had the first outbreak in Herefordshire.

Robin Feakins was among farmers forced to destroy 300 sheep and 68 cattle kept at Roger Yardley's farm in Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday.

Mr Feakins also had livestock at another farm in Chaddesley Corbett which have also been slaughtered.

"Dangerous contact" is when the disease has been confirmed on a neighbouring farm, or when farmers have been exposed to foot-and-mouth.

Today's news was the second "dangerous contact" case to emerge in Worcestershire.

Crown East farmer Charles Tutchings was yesterday forced to slaughter livestock after he admitted movement between his land at Prime Cut Farm and his son Steve's at Bringsty on the Herefordshire border.

Steve Tutchings saw 127 cattle and 249 sheep destroyed at Home Farm on Sunday after MAFF investigators confirmed foot-and-mouth.

Wyre Forest District Council leader Mike Oborski called for compensation for farmers and other rural businesses hit by the outbreak.

And he reiterated calls for the public to keep out of the countryside.

"Wyre Forest is now the largest urban exclusion zone hit by the current foot-and-mouth outbreak," said Mr Oborski.

"We totally support maximum possible financial compensation for farmers hit by the crisis but central Government must also face up to the fact that a whole range of other local firms and businesses are also being devastated by the crisis.

"The anticipated financial losses are leading to lay-offs and redundancies and threatening many businesses with economic ruin.

"Without financial aid, many livelihoods are clearly at risk.

"The Government must move to help all the businesses hit by the crisis."

Mr Oborski revealed 45,000 leaflets were being distributed to households in the district emphasising the seriousness of the situation.

Advice in the pamphlets included keeping dogs away from parks and countryside and exercising horses in areas where they were stabled.

There have been no further cases of foot-and-mouth in Worcestershire in the past week, keeping the total at three.

In Herefordshire there are 12 cases, including three at Bringsty.