AS BRITAIN was officially declared a foot and mouth free zone, a Kent farmer whose livelihood was ruined by the disease said he had given up farming livestock. Trevor Smith, of New Hall Farm, Allhallows, near Rochester, lost 70 cattle and will now turn to producing vegetables instead.

The Government said today that the announcement removed "a long dark shadow from the countryside". But for Mr Smith and his wife Marilyn the memories of the disease and the havoc it caused will stay with them for a long time.

Mrs Smith said: "We are going to carry on as we always have but we're not going to have any livestock. It was an awful time and we are glad it's over."

New Hall Farm has been run by the Smith family for many years and it was the first time they encountered the devastation of the disease. Other Kent farmers warn that despite the government's announcement, the crisis is not over yet.

Robert Maclean, a partner at Moat Farm in St Mary Hoo, said: "ItÕs just a calendar milestone really. All restrictions are still fully on in Kent, but we hope in time they will be eased gradually."

Mr Maclean also emphasised that the crisis could still have an effect on British export of meat. "We are hoping that we are rid of the disease - but we are not recognised internationally any different than yesterday," he said.

Andrew Lingham, from Upper Halling, was calling for cautious optimism. He described the government's announcement as good news but agreed that this was not the end.

"It was a nightmare - and it is not over yet.

Every time you want to move an animal in Kent you need to get a license. It is never going to be as easy as it was to move animals again."

Farmers agree the Government now needs to focus on how the disease came to the country in the first place and how to prevent it from happening again. Richard Whitebread, chairman of the Rochester branch of the National Farmers Union said: "It's good news, something we have been waiting for for a long time. I just hope the government will start paying attention to meat coming in the back door - bushmeat. Other countries do far more and if we did the same we might never see this disease again."