A pig farmer at the centre of the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak has had his court costs reduced.

Bobby Waugh was given six months to pay �10,000 towards the cost of bringing a prosecution against him, when he was convicted in June 2002.

Waugh, who ran a pig fattening farm at Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, was found guilty of concealing the fact his herd had contracted the foot-and-mouth virus, and of animal health and cruelty charges.

But Sunderland magistrates have agreed to write off most of the bill, after hearing he had an overdraft of more than �40,000.

Nearest court

The original prosecution had been heard at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court in Bedlington.

As well as has being banned from keeping livestock for 15 years, Waugh was also subject to a three-month curfew, and ordered to pay prosecution costs of �10,000.

However payment of costs was transferred to Sunderland Magistrates Court, as being the closest court to Waugh's home in St Luke's Road, Pallion.

Disease outbreak

The costs bill has now been reduced by �9,480, leaving the 57-year-old to find �520.

Waugh had denied 15 animal health and cruelty charges during his trial.

He was eventually convicted of five charges of failing to notify the authorities of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth.

He was also convicted of two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to pigs, and one each of feeding his animals unprocessed waste and failing to dispose of animal by-products.