THE impact of last year's foot and mouth epidemic has been described as a "crisis which became a disaster" by the chairman of the Lessons to be Learned inquiry.

Commissioned by the Government, Dr Iain Anderson spent almost a year studying every aspect of the disease from its discovery on February 19 2001 to the way the epidemic grew and was handled.

His findings will not be a surprise to Craven residents, farmers and business owners who voiced their dismay throughout the whole of the operation.

In short, Dr Anderson says action was not taken soon enough, communications between Government ministers and the people on the ground were lacking in clarity and direction and the impact on tourism was underestimated.

His 80 recommendations to deal with any future disaster include:

* Respecting local knowledge.

* An option on vaccination to form part of any future strategy for control.

* Clear communications.

* The preparation of comprehensive contingency plans and reducing livestock vulnerability through reforms.

But Buckden hill farmer Gary Schofield, who could not move his lambs to lowland eatage, nor sell his store cattle during the crisis, said the country was no nearer coping with another epidemic than it was last year.

"As far as I can see the Government is no better prepared that it was then. If foot and mouth struck again tomorrow, we would be back in the same situation straight away.

"Personally I think the problem lies outside. If the disease strikes up again it will have had to come into the country from somewhere else. To stop it happening there should be tighter controls on imports," he said.

The proprietor of Settle's Castleberg Sports, Graham Ball, said he would be happy if the report was heeded.

This time last year Mr Ball could see no future in his outdoor wear business and was down hundreds of pounds a day in lost takings. Today business is more or less back to 2000 levels.

"What I would like to see happen now is that the recommendations which have been made in the Lessons to be Learned inquiry are transferred into policy. I don't want to see them left on the back-burner and the tourist trade held hostage again in another crisis," said Mr Ball.

The National Farmers' Union has also endorsed the inquiry's call that the mistakes of 2001 never be repeated.

NFU president Ben Gill said: "We are pleased that this inquiry has reported so quickly. It is vital now that we apply the lessons learned and that the Government gives a clear commitment to provide sufficient resources to deal effectively with animal diseases in the future."

Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, said the Government was taking note of the contents of the report.