A MAJOR investigation has been launched by Government officials after people delivering census forms were accused of increasing the risk of spreading foot and mouth disease.

An Ilkley farmer confronted census form deliverers who ignored 'keep out' signs and drove up to his farmhouse in Denton.

"They had no protective clothing, they ignored two warning signs to keep out, and ignored all the regulations," said Richard Broderick.

He added: "They were on the drive and I was absolutely disgusted. On our branch of Denton Road there are two mats and two sets of signs up - they did not seem to bother and drove up in their car."

Mr Broderick and his wife, Wendy, have hardly been off the farm during the past seven weeks because of the virus outbreak and all their mail has been delivered for collection at a house outside the farm gates half-a-mile away.

The only vehicles that have been allowed to come on to the farm have been emergency feed wagons which had been properly disinfected before being allowed to proceed. He refused to take the census forms, fearing that they might be contaminated if the deliverers had been to nearby farms or anywhere else without properly disinfecting themselves and their car.

After the shock of seeing the two officials, Mr Broderick consulted the official web site of the Office of National Statistics which clearly states that all the people delivering census forms should comply with foot and mouth restriction notices banning them from agricultural land.

The information contained on the web site says: "On no account will census takers use taped-off thoroughfares or pass warning signs."

Tony Bowey, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) official for the area, said: "My understanding is that they will respect everybody's wishes. If there are warning signs saying 'don't go on' they won't go on.

"I was told that they would respect any signs. They would leave it and contact the farmer another way."

The web site says that where there is no direct access for farmers, officials should contact them by post or telephone to make other arrangements to deliver the forms.

A few days after the incident, Mrs Broderick said an official from the Statistics Office telephoned to ask what had happened.

"I told him what had happened and he could not believe what these women had done," said Mrs Broderick.

The official then promised a full investigation into the incident to prevent it happening again.

But Mrs Broderick said she couldn't understand why the census takers had ignored the restrictions when it was obvious that they were on a farm.

"We can all make mistakes but when you are driving through fields with newly lambed ewes you realise you are on a farm," said Mrs Broderick.

A spokesman for the Office of National Statistics said: "We take very seriously any accusation that our enumerators have breached foot and mouth restrictions. Our guidelines are very, very strict, that our enumerators are not to do anything to interfere with efforts to fight the outbreak of the disease.

"We are investigating all reports we are getting. We do take very seriously any allegation."

Stephen Dew, an NFU official for Bradford, said: "If they are going on to farms without consultation, I consider there is something not quite right.

"Bradford has agreed that the best way would be to post them and I would have thought that would be the best way throughout the region.

"They should have talked to the NFU in the area and agreed the way to approach farms."