AN INQUIRY into the foot and mouth crisis is to be held by Devon County Council in a move that will put pressure on the Government to hold a national public inquiry.

The inquiry will be undertaken by a special select committee which plans to consult district councils in the worst affected areas as well as other interested groups.

The findings will be presented to the national public inquiry into the crisis, if one is held. However, if no public inquiry is launched the findings

will still be

useful — the evidence gathered by the committee will be used to back the case for Devon's recovery plan in negotiations with the Government.

The select committee will be headed by an independent chairman.

It is likely to hear evidence from representatives of the National Farmers' Union, the Environment Agency, the Army and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as well as affected farmers.

The all-party decision to set up a series of hearings into the crisis in Devon, was taken by the county council's executive committee.

The Devon inquiry plan still has to be approved by the full county council, but it is hoped hearings could begin in the autumn.

West Devon and Torridge Liberal Democrat MP John Burnett said: 'I am delighted that the three main parties in Devon County Council have combined to pass this resolution.

He said: 'We have been gravely affected as a county, especially in my constituency, by foot and mouth.

'What is of great importance is that Government itself holds an independent public inquiry. We as a party are pressing the government for this.

'It is crucial that this time real lessons are learned from this

catastrophe.'

Mr Burnett said that, with or without a national public inquiry, government funding would be crucial to Devon's regeneration.

'Devon County Council has put forward a compelling regeneration plan, and the findings from this inquiry will provide the government with evidence that they must fund this plan,' he added.

Mr Burnett said the regeneration plan had the full support of Liberal Democrats MPs for Devon and the Regional Development Agency.