A leading Conservative has slammed the government's handling of the foot and mouth epidemic.

Shadow spokesman for agriculture Jim Paice said Labour failed to heed warnings from the Tory party and took too long to instigate a plan of action to curb the spread of the disease.

Mr Paice also called for swift action to ensure the recent outbreaks in North Yorkshire did not spread to farms in the Keighley area.

Speaking during a visit to Marley allotments, in Keighley, Mr Paice said: "From the day of the first outbreak the government has ridiculed what we were saying and in every case it has come back and done it.

"We asked for the recommendations of the Northumberland Report to be put in place -- culling within 24 hours, to burn carcasses as quickly as possible and to bring in the army within three days. The government did nothing.

"Obviously, farmers around here and in the Dales will be very worried about the situation and clearly the government has got to operate a quick cull of animals that are infected and dispose of the carcasses very, very quickly.

"The situation is pretty horrendous and it just shows how premature Tony Blair was to declare foot and mouth was over."

Conservative candidate for Keighley Simon Cooke said: "A lot of pressure was put on North Yorkshire and Bradford Council to get footpaths open and to re-open the countryside.

"I'm pleased we resisted those calls because what we have done is in the interests of the farming communities and villages in and around Keighley."

Mrs Cryer said: "I think it's an awful situation for whichever government had been in and with their laissez-faire approach the Tories would have been a very, very long way behind us.

"We have done everything we can in a bad situation and my office has busted a gut getting local farmers advice. It's just one of those things that happens and to start blaming people is ludicrous."

During their visit to Marley, the Conservatives were shown around the allotments at Marley, which are cultivated by members of the Cellar Project, the organisation that helps and is manned by people overcoming mental health problems.

Mr Paice said: "I'm always fascinated to see what can be achieved through projects such as this and it is an excellent example of what can be achieved. This would be a credit to any gardener."

Mr Cooke added: "The importance of this type of project should never be underestimated."