FARMER Denise Plummer has become the first person since the Second World War to be re-elected for a second successive term as the chairman of the Wiltshire NFU.

Mrs Plummer, 51, who has 250 dairy cows at Leaze Farm, Stanton St Quintin, near Chippenham, said she was not aware of anyone being re-elected in almost 60 years.

She said she is hoping for a more positive year following the seven-month foot and mouth crisis.

"It has been an extremely hectic year and for literally three months I did nothing else apart from NFU business from eight in the morning until late at night," said Mrs Plummer, who was re-elected at the NFU's annual meeting at Wiltshire College Lackham on Thursday.

"It would be nice to see through a more normal year having had the foot and mouth outbreak over the past year.

"It made the whole scenario of being county chairman much different to normal."

Mrs Plummer said during her second term in office she wants to address the problems of TB within herds, and is looking for more widespread testing.

She also wants to encourage a voluntary code of conduct in using pesticides, to avoid a pesticide tax.

"But the biggest single issue is to help gain a better income for farmers," added Mrs Plummer.

She thanked Wiltshire County Council's emergency planning group for its help during the foot and mouth crisis.

Philip Abbatt, of Potterne, near Devizes, and Tim Carson, from Marlborough, have been elected deputy and vice-chairman of the county's NFU.