A farmer whose farm has been under a cloud of suspicion throughout the foot and mouth crisis has spoken of his "nightmare".

Frank Shouler, of Elm Tree Farm, Wendlebury, said people assumed that his farm - to the east of the confirmed outbreak in Little Chesterton - was the scene of a suspected case of foot and mouth.

The rumour started after the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said at the beginning of March there was a farm in Wendlebury under observation for a suspected outbreak.

His farm was even named on the radio as the location. No-one ever confirmed this and Mr Shouler's farm remains officially disease-free.

Maff said yesterday that Mr Shoulder's farm was under observation - but so were all farms within the 3km zone around the Little Chesterton outbreak.

Mr Shouler criticised Maff for not by making it clear from the start where it was referring to.

"It has been an absolute nightmare," he said.

"When you get people writing letters to you saying 'we are sorry you have got foot and mouth' I was more than upset.

"On the day it was announced we must have got 50 phone calls and ten letters. That was something we could have easily done without."

He said he had spoken to neighbouring farmers and asked Maff which farm it was, but was told individual cases could not be discussed.

He said: "We have never discovered who it is. I have rung my neighbours and no-one, as far as I know, has been what I would call a suspected farm."

His farm has received seven inspections, and his neighbours' farms have also been seen several times. His cattle have been subject to physical examinations, but were never blood-tested.

He said: "The main vet who did the inspections last week came from both by neighbours the day before. There's no problems with either of those farms. The four main farms in the village are clear."

His brother, county councillor and retired farmer Charles Shouler, of Lodge Farm, Chesterton, said it was untrue that one farm was under suspicion.

He said: "Everyone within the 3kms has a notice saying 'animals under observation. Keep out: foot and mouth'."

A spokesman for Maff said: "It's not Mr Shouler alone, it's all the farms within the 3km protection zone. All farms within the 3km protection zone have had their stock examined, and sheep flocks and goat herds have had blood tests.

"All the animals examined were found to be healthy and bloods test results available have so far been negative."