The worst fears of farmers in the North York Moors were realised when a suspected case of foot and mouth disease in the area was confirmed.

An urgent public meeting of farmers and villagers was held in Heartbeat village Goathland after blood tests on cattle at Ashes Farm, in nearby Ruswarp, near Whitby, tested positive for the disease.

Alison Jarman, of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, said livestock at six neighbouring farms would all be slaughtered as a precaution.

"Meanwhile restrictions have been served on all farms within three kilometres of Ashes Farm," she added.

"This means they will be closely monitored over the coming weeks. We do not know how many sheep or cattle will have to be slaughtered yet."

David King, chairman of a group of farmers and the business community in Goathland set up to tackle the foot and mouth scourge, said that despite the grim feeling in the village, there was still hope that the outbreak would remain an isolated incident.

"I feel quite cross that there aren't any real guidelines for villages in the same situation. Nobody has really been told whether we should be moving between villages or not.

"We had hoped it would not be confirmed but we have got to hope there is a chance that it can be isolated."

Goathland farmer and group member Charles Wordsworth said the Ruswarp outbreak was a "catastrophe" for the area and added that he was personally "devastated" by the news.

However, he said he was very heartened by a public meeting held in the village, which was attended by half the village community, more than 200 people, with just four hours' notice, and at which a prayer was said.

At the meeting, villagers decided to press ahead with plans to construct temporary cattle grids and fencing to keep sheep out of the village where they could come into contact with visitors.

Nearly 100 volunteers came forward to man the gaps in the fencing.

Mr Wordsworth said: "We are doing everything we possibly can in the village and are remaining united. I'm not sure how much more we could be doing."

Though Goathland was not necessarily encouraging visitors, Mr Wordsworth said that if they abided by all the precautions then they would be welcomed.

MAFF investigators are still trying to establish how the disease broke out at the Ruswarp farm as the nearest cases previously confirmed were many miles away at Danby Wiske, near Northallerton.

Updated: 08:43 Monday, April 09, 2001