A CATTLE exporter hit by the foot and mouth outbreak has vowed to continue his fight for compensation even though restrictions have been lifted.

Peter Bartley, 59, from Gisburn, claimed the ban on cattle exports in wake of the crisis in Surrey cost his business nearly £30,000.

And while today's (Saturday) resumption of exports to Europe has been welcomed by Lancashire's farming chiefs, Mr Bartley said someone had to pay for his financial losses following the outbreak on August 3.

Along with a group of other exporters, he has employed Merseyside-based Kirwans Solicitors to handle the legal case for compensation.

Mr Bartley said: "This time we know where the disease came from. Last time in 2001 it was an act of God, this time it's man made."

A report from the Health and Safety Executive is expected in the next two weeks in to whether the disease spread due to bio-security lapses at the Government-run Institute of Animal Health site at Pirbright, or the neighbouring commercial vaccination company Merial.

If one of these is identified as the source of the outbreak, farmers could have grounds for launching a compensation case.

Mr Bartley's business involves temporarily keeping Friesian bull calves at his Gisburn base before they are shipped out of Dover to units in Holland, Spain, Belgium and France where they are reared for the continental meat trade.

Before the crisis farmers were getting between £30 and £100 for their bull calves, but he warned it would take time for these prices to recover when he resumes exports next week.

"We can't give the price we were before because it's going to take time to convince our customers that our product is safe.

"It took us 15 months to build up the confidence in British animals, a confidence that was shattered in 24 hours. If the government thinks that will recover straight away they are wrong.

"Someone has to pay for this. The government has been incompetent."

Fellow Gisburn farmer and Lancashire county chairman of the National Farmers' Union, David Graveston, said resumption of exports was vital to getting British agriculture back on track.

Under the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) timetable for recovery, auction marts such as Gisburn and Clitheroe should be open for business by Saturday, September 10, when all remaining restrictions on livestock movements and livestock markets will be dropped.

It is hoped that the UK will be classed as foot and mouth free by early November.