An abattoir has begun legally slaughtering animals in a foot and mouth-infected area, prompting cries of anger from farmers.

The Shelf slaughter house, trading as Qul Halal Meat Suppliers, was given approval by the Government's Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to begin work again and yesterday started up again.

But while owner Yaqub Yusuf is being allowed to gradually rebuild his business, farmer Richard Sutcliffe, who works on land adjoining the abattoir, is frustrated that he must wait another five months before being allowed to get on with his professional life.

Mr Sutcliffe's life was thrown into turmoil when Bobby Green Farm at Queensbury was named as the first victim of foot and mouth in Bradford and restrictions laid down the movement of animals within a 3km radius of the site.

Vets from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) closed down the abattoir but a spokesman has defended the move to reopen the business, saying it would not have been done so unless vets were convinced any risk to the area was minimal.

Mr Yusuf said: "We used to kill about 6,000 to 7,000 sheep a week - that collapsed when foot and mouth came. We used to employ about 50 people and now we are down to seven. The bottom has fallen out of our market and we are not going to recover for a few months yet."

He said his site had been the victim of slurs and rumours during the outbreak, adding: "No one likes an abattoir near their house. People haven't been very friendly, but it's a business."

Mr Sutcliffe, who will not be allowed to bring livestock on to his farm for another five months, said the reopening of the abattoir was like a 'slap in the face' for farmers.

He said: "It's a bit tactless. It's unfair that they can go back into business and we have to wait for another five months."

A spokesman for MAFF said the process of reopening abattoirs in infected areas had worked in other parts of the country.

He said the risk of new foot and mouth infections from imported animals would be reduced because they would be coming from clean areas.

e-mail: kanchan.dutt @bradford.newsquest.co.uk

, would not be travelling anywhere else when alive and all vehicles would be cleaned.

He said: "Restrictions put on slaughter houses within a 3km radius of infected farms were lifted on March 29.

"We cannot operate on the principle that animals coming in might be infected.

"We are sure there is minimal risk of further infections."