IT has been almost three months since the last confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth in the Skipton-Settle "box" - but the Government has warned that the epidemic is far from over.

The risk of foot and mouth disease returning is still "very high" according to Government animal health minister Elliot Morley.

Speaking in the Commons this week to the environment, food and rural affairs select committee, Mr Morley said the epidemic would not be classed as officially over until there had not been a case in the country for three months. The last recorded case nationally was in Appleby on September 30.

The last recorded case in the Craven district was in Beamsley on August 2, although there was another in the Herald's publication area of Addingham, on August 16.

Mr Morley said there was a strong possibility that the disease was lying dormant.

"We still face the very real and serious prospect of another outbreak," he said, adding that there was a "pause" during the 1967 outbreaks after which a further series of cases lasted for three months.