Thornton-le-Dale Show has became the latest casualty in the foot and mouth crisis, it emerged today.

Organisers were hoping the show, which draws 10,000 people from throughout the region, would go ahead on August 8, but they decided to cancel in support of the farming community.

Carole Williams, the show's craft secretary, said the cancellation was a blow for the local community.

"The committee decided there was no way the show could take place in the current climate.

"We did look into the possibility of holding the show without any animals, but decided that would not be practical.

"It is disappointing not to be able to hold the show but we have no choice. A lot of farmers might feel uncomfortable attending," she said

John Garbutt, chairman of the Thornton-le-Dale village and traders forum, said the local business community stood to lose trade because of the show's cancellation.

"It is a shame, but it is the only responsible decision the show committee could have taken," he said.

"Traders in the village do benefit from the show because of the increase in visitor numbers."

In York, animal rights and Green Party activists protested outside the NFU's York office, angry at the culling of uninfected stock.

Concern was expressed at the policy of destroying stock on farms adjacent to an outbreak as a preventative measure, even if the animals are not showing signs of the disease.

Protesters were invited into the NFU building to discuss their concerns.

Rob Simpson, an NFU spokesman, said: "We had an open and frank exchange of views and we discovered that we share a lot in common."

* A farmer has appeared before a court accused of breaking the foot and mouth restrictions on livestock movement.

Robert Milestone, of East Brow Road, Newton-on-Rawcliffe, faces nine charges brought by North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards Service of allowing animals to stray from his premises on nine separate occasions.

He was released on bail by Scarborough Magistrates, to return to court on May 16.

* Agriculture officials faced calls to improve safety for slaughtermen culling foot and mouth infected animals today, as three people waited to discover whether they had contracted the disease.

Updated: 10:51 Wednesday, April 25, 2001