FARMERS in the Holme Valley have hit back over concerns over poultry waste.

They slammed animals rights protesters who questioned the safety of spreading the waste on fields as fertiliser when there are nationwide scares over bird flu.

The farmers said rigorous safety checks and hygiene standards made their industry one of the safest.

The Animal Aid group has expressed fears over the practice, which has been going on for 30 years.

But both Defra, the Government's agriculture department, and Kirklees Council environment staff said the practice was safe.

And people directly involved said they knew the waste from the poultry farms was perfectly harmless.

Paul Sykes, who runs a large poultry farm in Holmfirth, said: "We have spent an awful lot of money ensuring that our standards of cleanliness are as good as they can be.

"Everything is checked and regulated to meet Government standards and our poultry sheds are spotless.

"It would certainly not be in our interests to be spreading waste around the area if there was any risk at all of bird flu".

David Braithwaite, who carries out waste spreading on his land in Holmfirth, denounced the Animal Aid claims.

He said: "The standards farmers adopt are so rigorous. They know they have to have extremely high standards of hygiene.

"Anything that could cause problems, like carcases, are incinerated immediately on site and the waste that is spread is free from disease.

"Spreading the waste on the fields is far better than using chemical fertilisers. And when it is spread it attracts birdlife and wildlife to feed off the grains that are in the waste."

Tim Coy, regional secretary of the National Farmers' Union, said: "The standards for keeping poultry are very rigrous and very carefully scrutinised.

"The farmers in our area, such as Mr Sykes, are fully aware of the need to maintain the standards. They do an excellent job."