Army transport specialists were beginning operations in Devon today in a desperate effort to start clearing thousands of slaughtered livestock carcasses which have been lying rotting in fields for several days, much to the distress of their owners.

The move follows a bitter meeting between Cumbrian farmers and government Chief Vet Jim Scudamore yesterday in which demands were made for the quicker slaughter and removal of dead animals, estimated at 60,000 throughout the UK. Soldiers are expected to move into Cumbria and across the border in southwest Scotland later this week.

The move, however, was attacked by opposition politicians. Opposition leader William Hague described it as being "too little, too late" and Tory farming spokesman Tim Yeo called for a "complete mobilisation" of the army to tackle the crisis as the number of confirmed outbreaks hit the 350 mark.

Meanwhile, the controversial policy of slaughtering up to 300,000 healthy sheep, mostly pregnant ewes, is expected to start in Cumbria despite farmers' objections.

Similar treatment may be carried out near Hawes in Wensleydale, where another outbreak has been reported in a "cluster" which now numbers four. It brings the latest total in Yorkshire to six.

Other developments include:

• Chief vet Jim Scudamore has denied allegations that the outbreak is "totally out of control."

• And several newspapers report today that Prime Minister Tony Blair is determined to go ahead with a general election on May 3 even if it means giving thousands of country voters a postal ballot. Critics have accused the government of putting politics before the welfare of rural areas.