A YEAR after foot and mouth struck the area, Hatherleigh's biggest employer, West Devon Meat, resumed normal business on Monday, slaughtering its first animals for human consumption since the crisis began.

Hatherleigh Market has also been given a re-opening date of February 18, but is still awaiting further information from DEFRA relating to standards and procedures for livestock markets.

Despite fears that staff would lose their jobs at West Devon Meat, the company managed to keep the workforce of 40 on, after it was approved to carry out the foot and mouth welfare cull.

Since April, 250,000 animals have been slaughtered under the scheme.

The company's managing director, Peter Bowyer, said things were now back to what they were before the crisis and he had export customers waiting to take animals.

'Hopefully we will be slaughtering in the region of 5,000 to 6,000 sheep a week and 500 cattle,' he said.

'Last March we had no idea what was going to happen, but fortunately, the welfare scheme came along and saved us.

'The workers are feeling a lot happier about the situation now we can slaughter for human consumption. Now all we need is the livestock market up and running again.'

DEFRA minister Lord Whitty announced this week that changes to foot and mouth controls would enable a re-opening of livestock markets from February 11 — but directors at Hatherleigh Market are still awaiting vital information before they can obtain a licence to have a market.

Director Greg Vick said they had hoped to have all the information by now.

He said: 'We are waiting for the finalised document relating to the standards and procedures and once these are all up to date, we can apply for a licence.

'We think that 95 per cent of the work is done but it is leaving us a little bit tight for opening on February 18.'

Stricter biosecurity rules will be put in place, with disinfectant points at entrance gates and different animals on different days, but Mr Vick could not confirm whether the firm would need to take on extra staff.

'We will just have to see how it goes,' he said.

'At the moment we are just looking forward to starting up again.'

Hatherleigh Market has retained the majority of its existing staff — which now amounts to eight — through the crisis, although a few left when the long-term security of the market appeared in doubt.

Poultry, produce and antiques and private farm-to-farm sales of animals have kept the market going.

Mayor of Hatherleigh Dennis Bater said it appeared DEFRA was still not on top of the situation.

'A lot of effort and money has been spent in getting the market ready to operate again, but to a certain extent staff are working in the dark because they still do not know exactly what is required,' he said.

'They could be spending money unnecessarily.

'It's great West D evon Meat is back in action because it is a very big employer as far as Hatherleigh is concerned, but to resemble something close to normality we must have the market opened again as soon as possible.'