Norman Lamb to inspect escape routes of anti-social Norfolk pigs

12.00.00am GMT Wed 15th Dec 2004

Norman Lamb will pay a visit to Briston on Friday morning, 17th December 2004, to see for himself the havoc being wreaked on village neighbours by farmer Brian Hagan's anti-social pigs.

Mr Lamb was first contacted by Keith Catten, the farmer next door, who has been at the mercy of the marauding pigs for months. Each time a pig breaks into the Cattens' land, legislation left over from the foot-and-mouth outbreak means Mr Catten can't move any of his pedigree cattle for 6 days. As a result, Mr Catten has not been able to sell any of his pedigree beef herd for 13 weeks - and his business is grinding to a halt.

"We've tried everything," says Norman Lamb. "I've even written directly to Margaret Beckett urging her to intervene and prevent this daily invasion of pigs that is ruining the day-to-day lives and, in some cases, livelihoods, of people in Briston."

"The problem is that there is no legal requirement for a farmer to prevent his animals straying off his land. This means if those pigs come on to your farm it is your responsibility to make sure your animals don't then pass on any infections they might have picked up from the stray pigs. That's the reason for the 6 day movement restriction on the beef herd."

"This seems unfair and illogical and I am correspondence with DEFRA about closing this loophole in existing legislation," said Norman Lamb. "In the meantime, I am delighted that this anti-social behaviour order has been served but reports in the Times today that the pigs were running amok through the village almost immediately afterwards is cause for concern."

"I will continue to put pressure on DEFRA to change the law so anti-social farmers are no longer allowed to let their animals persistently wander onto other people's land," added Mr Lamb.