THE foot and mouth plague exploded dramatically on Chorley this week -- bringing with it death and devastation.

As the disease escalated, a Withnell farm was revealed as one of five new cases confirmed in the country on Tuesday -- and the first in Lancashire.

Even more alarmingly, there are unconfirmed reports of another farm on the Withnell/Hoghton border being hit -- and possibly two more cases, just outside Chorley.

Between 800-900 sheep were destroyed and burned at Ollerton Farm, Withnell, as the struggle to stop the spread of the disease continued.

Now more than 100 farms in a three kilometre area of the affected site have been put on alert.

Rob Paul, the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food divisional veterinary manager, said the outbreak had been discovered as a result of "tracing from the Northumbria area". The sheep were bought in Hexham in the middle of last month. It is understood the farmer sold some on but early indications are that most will have gone to slaughter.

Ministry experts visited the farm on Monday afternoon and took samples from animals which proved positive.

Mr Paul told reporters at a hurriedly organised press conference on Tuesday afternoon: "These sheep are now being valued. We will then arrange slaughter and destruction on site as quickly as possible after that. I have arranged for the slaughtermen to be brought to the premises. All being well, we will be doing it in the next 24 hours."

He said he had not personally spoken to the farmer, but added: "I can imagine he's a pretty devastated man."

In addition to a three kilometre zone, a 10 kilometre EU surveillance zone has been set up, though at present the former is the priority area.

All farms within the three kilometre zone will be visited within the next few days and susceptible animals inspected.

The doomed sheep at Ollerton Farm were disinfected before being incinerated at the farm.

A team of 10 MAFF veterinary officers, plus volunteer practitioners were drafted in. County council disease of animal inspectors could also be called up.

Mr Paul added: "The general public are not actually affected. There are a number of small lanes at the moment which we have closed and the police are guarding these."

Arrangements were put in place to close the nearby towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and other footpaths.

Mr Paul urged people not to travel to the countryside.

"If there's no need to go out in the country at the moment please stay away for now."

A meeting of Chorley Borough Council's emergency planning committee, comprising representatives from MAFF, the borough and county councils and police, took place on Tuesday night, to discuss the situation.

Council leader leader Jack Wilson pleaded for people to stay away from livestock farms and moorland areas where livestock could be roaming.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle has written to Nick Brown, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pressing him to provide financial support for farmers hit by the disease.

As the Citizen went to press on Tuesday evening there were 17 confirmed cases of foot and mouth in the country.