It seems many in the farming industry learned little or nothing from the foot-and-mouth disaster that spread so rapidly because of massive movements of sheep throughout the country, largely to supply the live export business.

Less than one year after this epidemic halted the export of live animals, sheep farmers, backed by the National Farmers' Union, are agitating for this discredited trade to resume.

In 1995, the good people of Sussex descended upon Shoreham and became the forerunners of nationwide protests against live exports and aroused public awareness of what goes on in this despicable trade.

When the next disaster of this type hits the livestock industry (as it surely will) these farmers should be made to clear up the mess their detestable practices will have caused and not be allowed to pass the bill on to hapless taxpayers.

A blow to their pockets is the only language they seem to understand.

-Peter Allen, Chute Avenue, Worthing