THE outbreak of foot and mouth disease is the worst crisis to hit sheep farming since the 1960s, says a leading industry figure.

John Thorley, chief executive of the Malvern-based National Sheep Association, is a member of a cross-industry group which met government ministers and veterinary chiefs on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.

He said: "This is a very serious issue, the most serious thing to hit the industry since the 1960s.

"What we have to do is to contain the spread of the disease, so that the standstill order can be lifted as soon as possible.

"Because of that it is incumbent on every single person in the land to exercise the greatest caution and make sure they do nothing to spread it."

He said the NSA has been inundated by calls from sheep farmers worried about the crisis.

"Farmers in the north of the country have sheep they cannot move trapped in blizzards on the hills. Other farmers have ewes ready to lamb in low-lying pastures they should be moved from. It is really becoming a welfare issue."

Mr Thorley said he was extremely disappointed that the UK had once again been struck by a major disease.

"This is particularly disappointing at a time when prices have been recovering well and when we are seeing some first real signs of returning confidence in the industry for some while," he said.

"Of particular significance is the fact that the sheep industry has had to suffer from the problems of BSE in cattle and will now take another knock as a consequence of foot and mouth in pigs."