A NORTH Wales council has launched an inquiry into allegations a farmer left animal carcasses in his fields. Tonight S4C will screen pictures of rotting bodies, said to be on Meirion Pugh's family farm on the Lloen peninsula. Yesterday Gwynedd council confirmed it is looking into the claims by the channel's Y Byd ar Bedwar. The claims have also been investigated by rural ministry Defra, which says the animals were healthy but had got lost. However, Mr Pugh says he has already been cleared by one council inquiry. The documentary's producer Geraint Evans said his crew filmed the carcasses lying in open fields and streams around Neigwl Plas farm near Botwnnog. It included six dead cattle in various stages of deterioration, two calves and numerous lambs and sheep. Mr Evans said: "It's a criminal offence not to dispose of dead animals responsibly. Farmers are responsible for ensuring that any carcasses are taken to hunt kennels or to a registered incinerator plant. "Until recently farmers were allowed to bury carcasses on their land. But new European legislation implemented by Defra has banned farm burials, following concerns that rotting animals could pollute water courses, and could even be responsible for spreading BSE." The programme-makers reported their concerns to Gwynedd council, and says an animal health officer has visited the farm. In a statement Gwynedd council said: "The council's trading standards has already launched its investigation into these allegations. "This investigation continues." Mr Pugh yesterday refused to comment. A statement from his solicitor Tudur Owen in Caernarfon said: "The local trading standards department has carried out a full inquiry into this matter. It has decided not to instigate proceedings." The film crew also raised the matter with Defra. A spokeswoman for the rural ministry said: "This has been investigated and there has been no further action. "The animals were healthy, it was just that they had got lost and injured themselves." Farm vet Martin Davies of Llandeilo, interviewed on the programme said: "Any farmer who leaves a carcass in a field and doesn't dispose of it, is care-less and endangers people." Mr Evans said: "It seems strange to me that Mr Pugh's solicitor says an investigation has been conducted by the animal health department of Gwyn-edd County Council and decided not to instigate proceedings. "Defra are also saying there has been an investigation with no further action. "But the animal health trading standards say it is still on-going." * Y Byd ar Bedwar will be shown tonight at 8.25pm on S4C. * A BAN on fox hunting was thrown into fresh doubt last night after claims hunt kennels are needed to meet Euro-rules on clearing away dead livestock. The government has asked 138 hunts - including several in North and mid Wales - to dispose of fallen stock, under regulations introduced last summer. The Countryside Alliance said it the kennels were essential to prevent Brussels imposing "vast fines" if dead animals were buried on farms. the government was widely expected to announce within weeks that a Bill to outlaw hunting altogether would be brought back. Simon Hart, the Alliance's chief executive, said: "The government is trying to outlaw the people who are trying to help them. It's ironic that it's the same ministers who voted for a ban on hunting who are now relying on hunt kennels to help them comply with European Union legislation." Defra has been forced to turn to hunt kennels for help because of a shortage of rendering plants. They include the Eryi hunt based in Garn Dolbenmaen, in Gwynedd, the Gogerddan hunt in Tregaron, Ceredigion, and the David Davies hunt in Llandinam, Powys. | 
