TAUNTON Market re-opened for business yesterday (Tuesday) following the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Red markets' - at which all the animals go to slaughter - will continue on Tuesdays, but full-scale Saturday green markets' are unlikely to resume until September 15.

The market has been closed since earlier this month following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Surrey.

Taunton Market managing partner Robert Venner said: "It was good to see the market open again on Tuesday - it's great that we've got going again.

"Although it was only a red market, there were some good trades.

"The entries were relatively smaller and there was a little bit of caution as it was the first market."

Mr Venner added that he was awaiting the go-ahead from Defra to restart green markets, but it was unlikely to be before Saturday, September 15.

*Meanwhile, customers are waiting to see if the cost of meat is likely to go up after the wet summer and the foot-and-mouth problems.

Butcher Gerald David said: "We've had no notification from farmers that prices are going up.

"If the prices go up, it won't be for another five to six months or so."

*The European Union has announced it is lifting the export ban on meat and live animals.

*For more on this story, see Thursday's Somerset County Gazette.