What the papers say

Journalist Grania McFadden reviews Tuesday morning's papers for BBC Northern Ireland.

The bad weather came too late for the papers, so they are a snow-free zone this morning.

They concentrate instead on the growing crisis in British farming, as the foot-and-mouth epidemic continues.

"It's No-Go Britain" says The Daily Expressas ministers plan to close off rural access in a bid to control the disease.

The Daily Mail reports that Britain has become the pariah of Europe, as panic sweeps the continent, and the EU plans to impose a six month ban on all British meat and livestock exports.

The paper says such a move could cost farmers and manufacturers up to one billion pounds.

Several papers carry graphic photographs of the long lines of incinerated cattle carcasses at a farm in Kent, with more bodies waiting to be burned.

Oldest herd at risk

The Independent highlights efforts to save a herd of Northumberland cattle from the disease and possible extinction.

The paper says the Chillingham herd has lived within the same walled garden for 700 years and are, perhaps, the oldest herd of cattle in the world.

Things are so bad, according to The Times, that "the future of agriculture in Britain" is at stake.

The Daily Telegraph claims foot-and-mouth has even cast a shadow over the general election.

The crisis has ruled out any chance of a snap election in April, and the paper says question marks are even being raised over dates in May.

Locally, The News Letter reports on movement restrictions at more than 100 farms across Northern Ireland.

The Irish News says farmers here have been told to treat their land like "fortresses", until the EU rules that Ulster is a foot-and-mouth free zone.

Cheltenham threatened

Both Dublin papers lead with the crisis too, as all livestock marts in the South are suspended in an attempt to lock out the epidemic.

The Irish Independent says some 20,000 Irish punters are likely to be asked not to travel to Cheltenham next month, and even this weekend's rugby international between Ireland and Wales in Cardiff could be threatened.

Elsewhere, The Irish News leads with claims that almost 500 republicans could be at risk, after their personal details were found in the hands of loyalists.

The paper says police have started contacting the republicans, after details were seized in separate raids during the height of the loyalist pipe-bomb campaign.

The material is thought to have been downloaded from a republican prisoners' website.

The Irish News says detectives have not ruled out the possibility that it was illegally provided by security personnel.

The Mirror's lead story reveals that a man sentenced to life yesterday for shooting dead a retired RUC officer will be back on the streets next year.

Neil Sheridan, who shot dead Cyril Stewart three years ago, could be freed in just 14 months under the Good Friday Agreement.

Several papers look at the possibility of life on Mars, as revealed by American scientists.

The Express says not everyone is quite as convinced as the Americans.

The Star points out that if it is true, we are all related to the Martians, which, it says, might explain one or two referees we've seen recently.

Finally, The Daily Telegraph carries an excerpt of an interview with Tony Benn in the latest issue of the Radio Times.

In it, Benn recalls his television appearance with comedian Ali G. "I was completely taken in," he said. "Even after I left the studio I thought it was genuine, although I was a bit suspicious when he said Margaret Thatcher was a communist."