LIVESTOCK markets across the north-east are starting to reopen after a year of closure due to the foot and mouth crisis.

Hexham held its first store cattle sale last week. On Tuesday, the Northallerton auction mart reopened.

Selby livestock auction mart was to re-open yesterday with a fat market. Auction mart director Robin Screeton said the firm decided to hold the auctions on Wednesday instead of the traditional Friday because slaughterhouses wanted to clean up and close down on Friday ready for the weekend.

Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart was to resume today as was the Leyburn Auction Mart. Stokesley was is to hold a store sale on Saturday(Feb23) and a fat sale on February 26.

The owners of York Livestock Centre hope to reopen for their first sale in a year on February 28. But before that they must win a licence under new Government legislation which demands a host of strict biosecurity measures to guard against any re-emergence of foot and mouth disease.

Richard Tasker, one of the partners in the market, said: "They are way over and above any other measures that are in place anywhere else in agriculture."

Updated: 10:17 Thursday, February 21, 2002