EXPERTS today confirmed another Yorkshire outbreak as the national foot and mouth crisis continues.

The latest affected farm, in Rawdon, Leeds, is only 30 miles from York and the closest yet recorded.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) has already confirmed four cases near Hawes, in the Yorkshire Dales.

Investigations to find the source of the Rawdon outbreak and cease its spread started immediately.

The Government's chief scientist warned that half of all Britain's livestock could be slaughtered if the crisis continues. Professor David King, the Prime Minister's adviser, said: "Today's models show that if we proceed as we are at the moment, the epidemic is out of control.

"In the worst case scenario, out of control means that we might even lose 50 per cent of the livestock of Great Britain."

Agriculture minister Nick Brown was today expected to claim the Government's tough policy was beginning to bear results.

He will unveil figures that suggest times for slaughter and disposal of condemned animals were being cut.

But a MAFF report states that Britain's farming industry was facing a "very large epidemic" which will "continue for many months," with one estimate suggesting that the epidemic could grow by 70 cases a day. The estimate came as Prime Minister Tony Blair was said to have ordered a nationwide extension of the controversial "firebreak" cull of healthy animals next to infected farms.

At present the firebreak cull is only being used in two-mile areas around infected farms in heavily affected Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway.

Mr Brown later attempted to allay fears by claiming the scheme was still under consideration, but admitted it was his department's intention to "achieve the Prime Minister's firebreak policy".

Mr Blair has also instructed officials to improve slaughtering times to ensure that all livestock is culled within 24 hours of diagnosis to avoid spreading the virus.

As it was disclosed that more than 480,000 animals had been slaughtered or condemned, the current outbreak - now in its fifth week - was officially declared worse than the foot and mouth epidemic of 1967.

adam.nichols@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 12:18 Saturday, March 24, 2001