ONLY days after Agriculture minister Nick Brown insisted the foot and mouth outbreak was under control, a Government vet admitted that Britain was in the grip of an epidemic. Reporter JOE SLADE looks at the crisis as farmers in Buckinghamshire wait to discover if a farm in Medmenham has the disease.

Crisis, epidemic, catastrophe. The foot and mouth virus has hit farming nationwide making life even more of a hardship for the rural community.

Since foot and mouth was first identified, farmers have hoped against hope that the virus would be contained.

But the outbreak has continued to grow, with daily numbers of farms which have the virus getting bigger, not smaller.

Foot and mouth has affected everyone from walkers to dog owners. Tourism has suffered considerably as people stay away from the countryside, but farmers have suffered the most.

Currently, only farms round Medmenham have blanket restrictions in Buckinghamshire.

Bockmer Farm, Medmenham, has been the subject of investigations into a possible outbreak of foot and mouth on March 14.

Since then, it has faced a ban by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) of all movement of animals, people and animal waste from its premises.

Terry Carter, of Buckinghamshire County Council trading standards, said other farms within a 3km radius of the farm have been banned by the county council from moving animals and waste.

Farms within an 8km radius of the suspected area cannot move animals to abattoirs.

Sally Philp, wife of farmer Giles Philp, of Town Farm, Bisham, said foot and mouth had made life difficult.

She said: "The restriction of movement makes it very difficult for us. My husband has to go round all the fields feeding the animals instead of bringing them in and there are so many forms to fill in."

Odds Farm Park, in Wooburn Common, is also suffering.

The popular visitor centre has had to lay off 12 staff at what would normally be an exciting time to visit.

Owner Steve Vinden said: "The outlook is bleak. It's a bit demoralising. Every week that goes past gets us further and further into debt.

"We would like to open as quickly as is possible but we can only do that once it is safe."

Other tourist attractions have suffered from the foot and mouth outbreak with visitors staying away from the countryside.

Chiltern Open Air Museum, in Chalfont St Giles, has been one of the attractions affected.

The museum will have lost a third of its income by the end of the month but it is hoping to re-open on April 1.

Head of Education at the museum Janet Ahlberg said it was cautiously opening after taking advice from MAFF, vets and other open air museums.

She said: "We're not opening the whole site and people will have to step through a disinfectant bath but we hope to have a full programme by Easter."

Mrs Ahlberg believes visitors will come to the museum.

She said: "People are very aware of their responsibilities. They've been very good in respecting local footpath closures but providing they're assured the property they're visiting has taken all precautions, they will come.

"If people don't come, then we won't survive."

The Government has issued guidelines to attract people back to the countryside, especially in areas that have not got foot and mouth.

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions said people could visit towns and villages by road, and could walk by the side of the road, providing they stay away from animals, particularly cattle, sheep, pigs or deer.

But Mr Vinden said the guidelines were confusing.

He said: "The whole countryside is full of animals so how can you stay away from them?"

The closure of footpaths has caused problems for dog walkers, with councils warning about the increased levels of dog mess left on pavements.

Mr Vinden added: "I hope and pray that we remain in an area without any infection."

And hoping and praying is about all a lot of farmers can do at the moment in the face of the blight.

Helpful Contacts:

www.maff.gov.uk - For the latest national outlook.

www.bucks.cc.gov.uk - For the latest regional news of what areas are open to walkers.

www.thepigsite.co.uk - Handy up-to-date information for farmers.

www.wildlife-countryside.detr.gov.uk/ruraltf/guidance.htm - For guidance on where walkers can go and what they can do.

MAFF help-line: 0845 050 4141.

Chiltern Open-Air Museum: (01494) 872163