March 1, 2001 16:21: Farms are in crisis, shoppers are panic buying meat, sports events have been cancelled and the countryside is strictly off limits. Reporter KELLY CLAYTON assesses the impact of the foot and mouth crisis on Bucks:

THE highly contagious foot and mouth virus was detected last week at an abattoir in Essex. It has spread and now the whole country and parts of Europe are holding their breath wondering when the chaos will end.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) has said the disease is probably more infectious than any other and spreads rapidly if uncontrolled.

In a bid to stop the spreading of the deadly virus, the Government put a national ban on livestock movements and gave local authorities the power to close footpaths and rights of way where they considered necessary.

Buckinghamshire County Council and Wycombe District Council announced on Wednesday all public access to farms and farmlands is being closed.

"In this situation it is a sensible precaution to keep the public away from farmland and other areas where livestock and wildlife may roam," said Bill Chapple, the council's deputy leader.

The National Trust also announced that all its properties had closed, including Hughenden Manor, Hughenden, High Wycombe, which was due to open tomorrow to visitors but is now shut until further notice.

As well as people not being allowed in to the countryside, nothing is allowed out. Some farmers have an ever increasing number of animals bred for meat that they cannot sell.

Many say the disease has the potential to cripple farming as we know it.

Farmer Ben Boughton, owner of Greenway Farm in Great Horwood, near Aylesbury, has 13,000 pigs and says his farm is bursting at the seams.

Mr Boughton, of Amy Lane, Chesham, said: "We have something like 600 pigs born every week and those pigs grow up very quickly. We want to be selling 600 a week in order to have enough space to keep them all. We haven't been able to sell one pig since the disease was first discovered."

The ban on livestock movement was announced last Friday and it was hoped by many that it would only last for a week but to the disappointment of farmers it has been extended until March 17.

Staff at closed Odds Farm Park in Wooburn Common are worried as visitors' fees pay for the care of their animals.

Steve Vinden, owner of Odds Farm, hopes to re-open as soon as possible.

He said: "Only essential vehicles like those delivering animal feed are allowed in but they are disinfected when they come in and go out. We are trying to remain positive about the whole thing and are hoping and praying that it doesn't affect us. We have lots of baby animals at the moment and this is usually a very busy time of year. It is painful not being open."

It is not just farmers who are being affected animal charities, ramblers, bookies and horse riders are also feeling the strain of the outbreak.

The Ramblers Association has had to cancel all its walks and The British Horse Society is warning all riders to keep off bridleways and farm land until the danger of spreading the virus has passed.

At the book makers it is now a case of 'don't place your bets' as sporting events are cancelled left right and centre.

Ted Crick, from V J Racing, in Wooburn Green, said most of their bets are being made for events in other countries.

"We have stopped taking bets for Cheltenham because of the situation. There is talk of racing being resumed at selected tracks even if everybody has to go through disinfectant first."

Animal charities are also having to deal with the crisis. St Tiggywinkles, in Aston Road, Haddenham, has started a home visit scheme in an attempt to stop the virus spreading.

"The whole place is surrounded by disinfectant baths," said Les Stocker, founder of the charity. "Hedgehogs and deer are at risk so we are not taking them in. But if people find a hedgehog in their garden, we keep it there and send out a team to care for it."

He added: "This will go on for much, much longer. It spreads like wildfire because it can travel on the wind, but all people can do is just hope for the best and pray to God."

Foot and Mouth Factfile:

The virus affects cloven hoofed animals, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and deer.

Foot and mouth is highly infectious and can be carried in the air for up to 40 miles over land and 180 over sea.

It can be spread by anything that comes into contact with the virus, including other animals, vehicles and humans.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has announced the names of 30 different disinfectants that can be used to tackle the virus.

There are 26 confirmed cases in this country, at time of going to press.

For more information log on to www.MAFF.gov.uk