A POWERFUL and moving television series that documented the full horror of life in the Dales during and after the foot and mouth crisis has been nominated for a prestigious award by the Royal Television Society.

"Silence Of The Lambs", made by Grassington's Cheeky Monkey Films, has been shortlisted as the best regional television programme. It was broadcast on Yorkshire TV last year.

Producers Paul Edwards and his wife, Katy Metcalfe, will be attending the black tie awards event at London's Grosvenor House Hotel next Tuesday, joining celebrities such as Julie Walters, Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross.

Mr Edwards said: "It really doesn't matter if we win or not. It's just great that the farmers and their families we filmed during that cruel year are getting the recognition for the time they gave us.

"Most television documentaries are filmed in just a few days - the fact that local people allowed us to intrude on their lives for a year is the reason why the series stands out above the rest."

The four programmes followed farming families before, during and after the culls that swept across Craven in 2001. It showed the real-life drama of farmers watching their sheep and cattle be killed outside their kitchen window.

Paul and Katy produce some of the most popular programmes on television such as Channel Four's "Location, Location, Location", but say their time on "Silence Of The Lambs" was their most challenging.

"It was the most difficult job I've had. I never expected I would be dusting down a dinner suit when we were standing in a muddy field, surrounded by the chaos and hell that is foot and mouth."

Now Katy is trying to find an evening dress to cover a rather big bump - their second child due in 12 weeks.