GWENT farmer David Handley (pictured) led a march of around 1,000 protesters to Downing Street to demand "the truth is revealed" and a public inquiry be held into the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The march, held six months after the start of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, saw campaigners, including the public and farming groups, march to Downing Street to hand in a 32,000 signature petition calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair to hold a public inquiry. Dairy farmer, Mr Handley of Old Llanishen Farm, Monmouth, who led the People's Fuel Protests last year, said a public inquiry was the only way the truth would come out regarding the government's handling of the crisis.

The Farmers for Action chairman told the Argus: "We don't care if the inquiry takes three years if it means the government tell the people what exactly happened regarding foot-and-mouth. We will not be happy until we get the truth."

Mr Handley said that a repeat of the march, which attracted the support of the London public who cheered the protesters as they walked towards Downing Street, was on the cards.

"We have so many questions that need answering and want the truth to come out. If Tony Blair does not start listening, we will make yesterday's march seem like a picnic. "Yesterday's protest was under the banner of the Foot-and-Mouth Alliance - which is made up of all concerned parties and more protests on a bigger scale are planned in the next few weeks.

The protest followed the government's announcement that a public inquiry was not being held into the outbreak.