IT IS yet another case of good news, bad news today: there was no new outbreak in the Settle area yesterday but, nationally, the crisis has become the worst foot and mouth disaster ever recorded.

This was admitted by top government scientific adviser, Prof. David King and MAFF now believes that the epidemic will last until late July or early August.

In Otley, West Yorkshire, police are investigating the apparent suicide of a young farmer, Andrew Keighley, aged 33, who was found hanging at Manderlea Farm, Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Mr Keighley had lost his job at the Otley auction mart - where he had worked for 17 years - when it was closed down because of foot and mouth. He was reported to have become increasingly worried about the spread of the disease.