'DRASTIC. Absolutely drastic.' That was the stark summing up of the situation by farmer's wife Mrs Ruth Rapson, of Shortburn Farm, Milton Abbot.

On a farm that has taken diversification on board she has three barns for tourists and holiday cottages which she fears will remain empty.

'We are looking into an abyss. It is not just now, but in six months' time. How can you get people if they are going to shut Dartmoor?'

She fears with so many cattle movements taking place before the outbreak was discovered it is anyone's guess where it will strike next.

The Rapsons have cattle coming up to age. But if they cannot get a special licence to get them to an abattoir they will lose £300 an animal because over 30 months their value is drastically reduced.

'It is devastating all the way round. My fear is that there will be a lot of farmers who will not survive and then you lose the infrastructure in the community.

'You have to earn money to repay the bank. For three weeks we cannot move cattle so we cannot earn money. If you make your living from livestock what do you do?'

Mrs Rapson said it was also costing farmers money because of keeping livestock longer — three weeks extra feed without any income.

'My son has been lambing. He has put so much work in but what will his reward be?'