IMPASSIONED pleas and a pledge to learn from the mistakes of the past emerged at a packed public meeting in Okehampton last week, attended by members of the European foot and mouth committee.

The all-party committee listened to evidence from farmers, members of the NFU and other members of the public all directly affected by last year's crisis.

John Burnett, West Devon and Torridge MP, appealed to the committee to get to the bottom of a number of issues, including the decision to build a burial pit at Ash Moor, the 'equally demented' decision to build a huge pyre site at Holsworthy, unnecessary culling of animals on farms contiguous to disease outbreaks, the delay in culling on welfare grounds and the disastrous effect of the outbreak on the tourism industry.

Mr Burnett said: 'I am anxious that lessons are learned. This has been a nightmare and we never, ever, want it to happen again.'

He said the government should have ordered a full public inquiry into the crisis — a call echoed by MEP committee members Neil Parish and Nick Clegg.

West Devon farmer David Hill, chairman of Devon NFU at the time of the crisis, spoke up for the 'unsung heroes' — farmers on form D restrictions whose stock was not culled, but who received no compensation and had watched their stock halve in value.

'I have likened them to an ice-cream seller who was made to watch his ice-cream melt before his very eyes before he was allowed to sell it,' said Mr Hill.

'I would make a plea to you to investigate the use and purpose of form D notices.'

David Clarke, of the Farm Crisis Network, appealed to the committee to investigate the ongoing cost in terms of stress suffered by farmers and their families — a request echoed by West Devon councillor Caroline Keane, co-ordinator of Stresscare, the post-traumatic stress disorder association.

Brian Aldridge, who lives near the giant burial pit at Ash Moor, hoped the European committee's report would have sufficient legal power to bring UK authorities to account over their handling of the crisis.

'We hope you will cross-examine ministers in public. So far they have escaped with voluntarily provided interviews,' said Mr Aldridge, who wanted answers to 'simple, specific questions' regarding the crisis.

And Ron Dawson of STAMP (Stop Ash Moor Pit) said the idea of allowing 25,000 animal carcasses to 'sweat down to a liquid' in the plastic-lined pit was 'ludicrous'.

'It's not FMD we need to fight, it's the way in which we handle it that needs to be fought against,' said Mr Dawson.

'Please leave no stone unturned — but unfortunately, we're looking at a pebble beach here,' he said.

Charles Dumpleton, of Highampton Parish Council, highlighted the plight of market traders unable to carry on their business due to closed markets.

And Ken Heard, of Okehampton, whose two sons had their stock culled, appealed for more stringent importation checks.

He said it took three men to wash his son's horsebox when it went to market.

'Wouldn't these men be better employed at the airports, stopping meat coming in?' he asked.

James McInnes, former chairman of Okehampton and Hatherleigh NFU, had one simple request.

He said: 'Please come out with simple proposals that all governments in Europe will accept, so we have an emergency plan in place to deal with this disease when it strikes again.'

Following the meeting, the MEPs visited Place Farm at Okehampton, where David Heard had his healthy animals culled under the contiguous policy.

Mr Heard said: 'They were very interesting people and very interested to listen — a quarter of an hour here ended up turning into two hours, they asked a lot of questions.

'Mr Kreissl-Dorfler (the Euro MP who will compile a report on the findings) was very interested. He took me aside and said "Was it really that bad?". I told him I would never want his country to go through it.'