Originally from: Bill
                        
Whatever happened in the rest of the country when FMD hit the Ribble Valley it soon became apparent it was the vets who were spreading it. Every affected farm had been visited a few days before by a ministry vet. DEFRA were saying that it couldn't possibly be them because the incubation period was five days. Not so, 2 to 3 days is fairly common in cattle.

An article in the Clitheroe Advertiser was all that was needed and the farmers of the Ribble Valley barred access to the ministry vets.

Result? Not a whimper of protest from DEFRA and the disease stopped spreading virtually overnight.

Bill.