TEN years ago this week a massive slaughter of local sheep began as the spectre of foot and mouth gripped the Forest of Dean.

Recalling the sad spring and summer of 2001, Commoners' Association secretary Mick Holder told the Review much had changed. The sheep had never returned in the numbers previously running on the Forest and he believed that if there was another outbreak the method of testing would change.

"There was not one confirmed case of foot and mouth in the 8,000 sheep culled on the Forest. Unfortunately the system was to kill the sheep first and then send the blood off for analysis. I'm sure that today the testing schedule would change," he said.

Mr Holder said that following the cull many older sheep owners decided to "call it a day" and never returned to the Forest.

"It was a serious blow for commoning. The problem was trying to replace the stock. Sheep had to be rehefted and it was not easy. Today there are less than 2,000 sheep compared to around 8,000 in the days of the 2001 outbreak," said Mr Holder.