The foot and mouth crisis has cost Oxfordshire County Council £140,000 to date, it has been revealed.

Earlier this year, there were two outbreaks of the disease in the county, one at Hinksey Heights, Oxford, and another at a farm in Little Chesterton, near Bicester.

There have been no further confirmed cases of the disease in Oxfordshire but emergency measures carried out by staff have had major cost implications.

Recent actions taken by Oxfordshire County Council trading standards officers include:

*removing restriction notices at nearly 100 farms near to the infected premises

*removing signposts warning of foot and mouth infected areas

*issuing more than 1,000 movement licences

*investigating 20 allegations of illegal animal movements

*sending 7,500 'path open' notices and guidance on use

*providing the latest information on the trading standards website

In a report to go before members of the county council's public protection committee on Monday, trading standards officer David Sibbert says farmers, businesses and employees have suffered financial loss as a result of the outbreaks.

Animal carcasses were burnt in the county, and Mr Sibbert pointed out that concern has since been raised nationally about the poss- ibility of harmful dioxins being released into the atmosphere.

A county council action plan has been drawn up to link sources of advice, information, counselling and support for farmers without relaxing the measures needed to control the disease.

Mr Sibbert warns: "Further outbreaks will result in additional hardship. The current foot and mouth epidemic has potentially significant environmental implications.

"Fewer livestock would change the look of the countryside, as would a marked decline in agricultural production generally."

Committee members are being asked to note that £100,000 of the £140,000 total is being covered by a "revision of priorities", £20,000 from 'underspends', and £5,000 is available in the council's Action Plan budget - leaving a shortfall of £15,000.