The outbreak cost the force almost �3.5m in extra costs and overtime.

Sir John: The force was stretched by the crisis

Sir John said: "Devon and Cornwall was hit harder than anywhere else, in our tourism, our economy, our farming community, and it would be wrong if that added bill has to be met by the local people."

The force's annual report released this week showed the government contributed �150m to its overall budget last year.

Safety concerns

Earlier this week, Sir John told the Devon County Council's foot-and-mouth inquiry that his officers acted as counsellors to farmers who were cut off by movement restrictions.

He said in a few cases the officers removed shotguns from farmers who held licences because they were worried about safety.

Officers were stationed at every burning pit, pyre and foot-and-mouth affected farm during the crisis.

At the peak of the crisis, 120 officers were stationed at 70 sites plus the two major disposal sites, Deep Moor and Ash Moor.