Papers highlight the countryside's plight

"The day they closed the countryside" is The Daily Telegraph's front page headline, reflecting the widespread coverage of attempts to stem the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Times reports that troops in the UK have been put on stand-by to try to help contain the disease.

The Independent says German scientists have found that some sheep imported from Britain have been in contact with the virus.

It quotes a German minister as saying: "We are now on the brink of a catastrophe."

The Independent also examines the wider economic implications of the crisis.

It notes that while livestock hauliers, abattoirs and food manufacturers are the obvious losers, the effects are spreading well beyond the food industry.

Bets

It cites as an example the week-long ban on horseracing.

But there is always innovation from adversity. The paper says one imaginative bookie is offering odds on the Cheltenham Festival being cancelled next month.

The same bookie might want to take advantage of another potential cancellation - a spring general election.

The Daily Telegraph, in its editorial, says the date could be put back until June or even October, pointing out that there is no great rush anyway.

"The prime minister has more than a year to work away at keeping his promises," it says. " Labour should toil, not spin".

Counting the cost

The Sun thinks that the final bill for the crisis could be over £2bn and says we will all pay the cost through higher meat prices.

But it adds that "the plight of farmers is what matters - not whether we have to pay a pound more for our Sunday roast".

In contrast, The Guardian argues that there is a need for a sense of proportion in reacting to the outbreak.

In particular, animal husbandry needs to re-invent itself. Practices will need to change the length of the food chain from slaughter house to supermarket to dining room, it says.

'Accused'

"Accused" is the one word front page headline in both The Express and the Daily Mail over pictures of Barry George, who is on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of Jill Dando.

Publication of the pictures was allowed after the judge in the case lifted an earlier ban.

A minor blow for the advancement of women in politics is reported by the Telegraph.

It says government hopes that a woman might be appointed to serve as Black Rod for the first time were dashed when the job went to a senior army officer Lieutenant General Sir Michael Willcocks.

Several women were interviewed for the post, but the shortlist was all male.

Toilet humour

Finally, the Sun reports on the plight of a man from County Durham who returned from holiday to find that his pals had cemented a chimney to his roof - with a lavatory pan on top.

Now Kevin Hudson's having a job trying to get someone to remove it.

A tempting tale for the headline writers. The Sun opts for " Bog the builder".