It is sometimes overlooked by those who live in the more urban parts of Bradford that the metropolitan district contains a great deal of agricultural land and has a population which includes many farmers and their families.

These people, understandably, are deeply concerned about the new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease - as indeed we all should be, given what happened last time. The spectre of those terrible funeral pyres, and the depressing sight of vast acres of empty, silent fields are still fresh in the memory even after six years.

We must hope that the major national effort to (as Prime Minister Brown puts it) "contain, control and eradicate" the disease is successful and that the latest outbreak can be quickly stamped out. Now is not the time for recriminations. Those must come later, if it is discovered that carelessness was responsible for letting this disease loose on the land again.

What is important now is that every precaution is taken to prevent it spreading. If that means a temporary ban on the transportation of livestock, leaving events like Bingley Show without the expected representation of cattle and sheep, it is a small price to pay for avoiding a repeat of that 2001 nightmare.

It must be disappointing for the organisers of the show, but they rightly point out that there will still be a great deal to see and experience. Let's hope that the weather is kind to them at the weekend, and that the crowds turn out in Myrtle Park to help to make the event a huge success.