VILLAGERS in Llancloudy say they are prepared to lie down in the road to prevent lorries carrying foot-and-mouth waste from trundling down a narrow single farm track past their cottages.

The villagers became alarmed after hearing of a plan to move buried waste from Hill Farm, the first farm in Herefordshire to be affected by foot and mouth, and where it is estimated 1,000 carcasses from several nearby farms are buried.

The farmer, Mr Kevin Feakins has said that during his claim for damages relating to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, a High Court judge ordered the waste material to be removed.

Herefordshire Council is displaying a notice in the village proposing to import top soil to be stockpiled in a field until required for use in "remediation works following excavation and removal of farm waste materials".

But villagers are worried that the lorries carrying the waste will shake and damage the foundations of their properties.

David George, who lives in a converted barn, said people wanted a bond placed on their properties so that any costs relating to structural damage would be covered.

"We are very worried about structural damage and very concerned about the content of the so-called farmyard manure which we believe is contaminated with harmful asbestos from old buildings cleared during the outbreak, animal waste, soiled bedding, chemicals and all kinds of matter."

The plan is to haul the waste over fields from the farm in large dumpers, pile it adjacent to Mr George's property and then transport it by lorry past the homes to the main road, where it is expected to be taken for incineration.

The large crater remaining would be filled with top soil to be imported to the farm.

"We are also concerned about the health risks particularly with regard to the children," Mr George added.

The initial plan was to haul the waste along the main farm drive to the road where the exit is safer than that from the farm track where it comes out next to a small chapel and graveyard and is on a bend.

Villages were so concerned they were prepared to "block the lane and lie down in it and they will physically have to move us", said Mr George.

Villagers Ted and Lesley Hayward said Hereford's MP Paul Keeth had asked for a meeting with Defra representatives about the residents' concerns.

"The risk to the properties and possible cost involved is far greater than those relating to any repair of damage to the farm drive," pointed out Mr Hayward, who said the villagers had asked for a risk assessment to which they were entitled.

Resident Tim Hunt said that from a highways point of view it would definitely be safer to use the farm drive.