DAIRY farmer David Davies is asking rush-hour motorists to avoid a busy road or face long delays as he moves his cattle during the on-going foot and mouth crisis.

Mr Davies, of Hatches Farm, Great Kingshill, needs to take his 150 Friesian cows from their sheds to pasture across Hatches Lane up to four times a day for grazing and milking.

But the 65-year-old, whose farm produces 4,000 litres of milk every week, is worried that waiting motorists could lose their rag while farm hands disinfect the road before and after each crossing.

He said: "Hatches Lane is quite a commuter rat run. I can imagine somebody getting very cross when we've been there five to ten minutes cleaning up the road. We've had people get out of their cars saying 'I'm in a hurry', but if we get inspectors down and cars cross before disinfectant is down somebody will be in trouble.

"It's got to be done but we are warning that we don't want people rushing. Motorists in the morning could take an alternative route."

Because of the foot and mouth crisis farmers must disinfect roads and highways before and after any livestock is allowed to cross. To date no cases of foot and mouth have been confirmed in Buckinghamshire.

Mr Davies, a farmer for more than 40 years, has to stop any on-coming traffic before laying freshly disinfected straw across Hatches Lane.

The whole process can take as long as 20 minutes and Mr Davies is considering putting up special signs to warn road users about possible hold-ups.

He is expecting to see some tailbacks especially during the evening at rush hour and added: "In the past we've had up to 10 to 20 cars waiting for us. We just want the general public to be patient and understanding during this."

Richard Burton, a spokesman for Buckinghamshire County Council, the authority in charge of the county's roads, said: "Farmers are in a very difficult predicament at the moment and we appreciate the consideration of the general public during the movement of animals.

"Members of the public have to take into account that it will take longer than usual to move farm animals from one location to another."