BIO-security measures following last year's foot and mouth crisis are not being taken seriously by the Environment Agency, claims a parish councillor.

Colin Pickles was speaking after a dead calf was left in the River Aire for three days.

He attacked the Agency for its "appalling lack of accepting responsibility" in removing the calf which was washed up in Gargrave on Saturday.

Coun Pickles said the heifer calf had been reported to him by a neighbour whose home overlooks the River Aire.

But several calls to the Agency over Saturday, Sunday and Monday to remove the carcass drew a blank.

"I was concerned, not only about young children seeing it and becoming distressed - which unfortunately two did on Monday morning on their way to school - but because of the foot and mouth crisis last year," explained Coun Pickles.

"After all the problems associated with the disease and all the restrictions which still apply, I am appalled that the Environment Agency was so slow in responding to this sort of incident.

"As well as foot and mouth concerns, there is the health risk. The Johnson and Johnson factory extracts some water from the Aire which could be polluted now."

Rim Rosbrook, human resources director with Johnson and Johnson, confirmed the company did extract a very limited amount of water from the river, but this was only used in the bleaching process and was thoroughly tested and cleaned beforehand.

Coun Pickles said that when he first rang the Agency they told him they would get a collection team together.

Another phone call on Sunday brought the promise that it would be removed that afternoon. Yet another 48 hours later it was still there.

"I was amazed at the total disregard the Agency had for the situation. They just passed the buck from one department to another. I've spoken to DEFRA in Leeds and Skipton, Craven District Council, North Yorkshire County Council and Trading Standards.

"It was Trading Standards who eventually came up trumps and said the calf would be removed the following day. They said they had been on to the Agency and told them it was their statutory duty to deal with the calf immediately."

He said that a DEFRA vet he spoke to was surprised the Agency had not acted sooner and was equally surprised the animal had not been reported as lost to the Department.

"I was told the calf would have been worth around £120 but because there is no tag or identification on it no one knows which farm it has come from," said Coun Pickles.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency confirmed it was removing the calf on Tuesday but argued that it was not a statutory duty of the Agency to carry out this sort of work.

"The Agency is not responsible for removing dead animals unless they are diseased or causing a blockage. Occasionally it will remove them if they are causing community problems, such as distress to the public, but normally it is the landowner who is responsible.

She added that on this occasion the Agency agreed to remove the calf but because it wasn't polluting the water, the recovery operation had been left until a week day.

She said the Agency had no reason to believe the animal may be a foot and mouth risk.