Unused burial pits dug at the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis are costing taxpayers �20,000 a week, it has been revealed.

Residents living near the site at Ash Moor, Devon, want to see the pits filled in and closed down.

But the government has insisted that the pits will remain open - even if Britain is declared foot-and-mouth disease free.

The Ash Moor burial site was constructed last spring, when thousands of animals were being slaughtered as a result of foot-and-mouth controls.

Pit security

However, in a written answer to parliament, animal health minister Elliot Morley has confirmed �5.6m has been spent on securing and maintaining the pits.

He confirmed they cost �20,000 a week to maintain.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the weekly total included �6,000 on security, �6,000 on drainage and other maintenance and �8,000 on the hire of equipment such as water pumps and lighting.

Business boost

However she said the work involved in looking after the site was providing a boost for nearby businesses.

She said: "Many of those involved in looking after the site are local so much of the money spent is going back into the local economy."

The spokeswoman added that even if Britain is declared free of the foot-and-mouth virus, the pits will still remain open for the foreseeable future.