CRAVEN remains firmly in the grip of the foot and mouth crisis as the virus scored its century in the Settle-Clitheroe rectangle this week.

Infected farm number 100 has been confirmed as Croft Closes Farm, Giggleswick, owned by Alan and Theresa Butler.

Alan, who is the third generation of his family to farm at Croft Closes, was devastated by the fact his pedigree herd had been slaughtered when the Herald spoke to him yesterday (Thursday).

He said: "It was found on Wednesday morning at about 5.30 and by 10.30pm 280 stock had been slaughtered and taken away."

Alan, who bought the farm off his father, Edwin, about 10 years ago, said: "I've spent 20 years milking cows and for that to be taken away in 24 hours is going to take a bit of time to get used to."

Edwin Butler, who lives with his wife Elsie at a bungalow at Croft Closes, added that yesterday was the first morning since the 1920s that milk had not gone down the road for retailing.

He said: "We've sold to the school down here since 1927."

His other son, Ian, has run the milk round from the farm for 24 years, but could not face delivering yesterday.

He told the Herald he was now buying milk from Skipton, at about three pence extra a pint - adding about 32 miles to his daily journey.

Chris Eccleston, who also runs a milk round from the farm, added despite the crisis there was no problem in supplying milk and both rounds would continue.

Alan and Theresa, who have four children, added that throughout their personal crisis, friends and neighbours had been wonderful.

Alan added that Giggleswick School had also been supportive, holding off any field activities and toning down its speech day.

The virus has also taken with it 28 cattle and 120 sheep on neighbouring land which has been identified as contiguous.

The disease has travelled a full circle since it first appeared in the Settle area on May 10.

Latest figures from the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show the total number of infected premises in Craven is 65, Ribble Valley 35, contiguous premises 395, slaughter under suspicion 10.

To date, animals slaughtered as infected and contiguous in both areas total 42,345 cattle, 240,233 sheep and lambs, 182 pigs, 66 goats and 155 exotics including water buffalo and farmed deer.

And the Herald can reveal that of the 283,101 animals slaughtered so far during the outbreaks, only 58,144 of them - around one fifth - were found to have the disease.

Farmer Simon Foster whose stock at Newfield Grange Farm, Airton, were contiguously culled, has become a well-known voice against DEFRA policy.

He said the number of uninfected animals slaughtered was "scandalous" and described the whole handling of the foot and mouth crisis by the Government as "barmy."

He told the Herald: "The difference in the figures goes to prove what I have said all along that there would be five farms taken out for each infected premises.

"It was Government policy right from the start to treat contiguous premises the same an infected and now they have the cheek to turn round and say it is costing too much."