GOVERNMENT vets have confirmed four more cases of foot and mouth disease in the Settle area, bringing the total number there to 25.

The farms are Nelson Farm, Carlton, Airton, Lodge Farm, Settle, Kelber Hill Farm, Gargrave and Kirk Syke Farm, Airton.

The affected animals - cattle and sheep - will now be slaughtered, and investigations are under way to trace the source of the infection.

A MAFF spokesman said: "There are 22 infected farms in the Yorkshire side of Settle and a further three just across the border in Lancashire.

"In addition to those farms, there are 110 premises which have been classified as dangerous contacts and so livestock there has been slaughtered as well.

"The total number of animals slaughtered or awaiting slaughter is 97,259."

Of that figure, 12,526 are cattle, 84,631 are sheep, 85 are pigs and 17 are goats.

The number of cases in North Yorkshire now stands at 49.

Trading Standards officers in North Yorkshire are looking into many reports of alleged illegal movement of animals and farmers straying off marked routes when moving animals for slaughter.

More staff have had to be recruited to deal with work linked to the foot and mouth crisis.

Meanwhile, a military cadet event has been cancelled because of the crisis.

The 60th Anniversary Celebration of North Region Air Cadets, due to be held at

RAF Linton-on-Ouse on Sunday 10th June 2001, has been postponed indefinitely.

Updated: 08:25 Tuesday, May 29, 2001