DEVON County Council have called on the man who led the Foot and Mouth public inquiry to chair their investigation into the Napoli incident.

DEVON County Council have called on the man who led the Foot and Mouth public inquiry to chair their investigation into the Napoli incident.Professor Ian Mercer CBE was officially unveiled as the independent chairman for the DCC-led Napoli inquiry on Monday. Prof Mercer, 75, said: "From the decision to tow the vessel into Lyme Bay right up to now, many questions have arisen, from maritime law and container ship practice, to the very local and very domestic. In all of that time much has been done and what was done well and what was done less well must both be registered."Throughout his career, Prof Mercer has specialised in rural conservation and environmental issues and has been Devon Rural Network chairman since 2003. In 2001 he was appointed chairman of DCC's Foot and Mouth inquiry, which was the first of its kind to be organised by local government.Prof Mercer said: "I'm sure this inquiry has got to be as broad as the Foot and Mouth inquiry was because it has got to work with all the technical end, as well as the feelings of local people and what they can remember of what did not work from their point of view."DCC leader Councillor Brian Greenslade said: "We welcome Ian's willingness to take part in this inquiry as he had the added bonus of having a naval background. The inquiry will allow anyone to release any feelings that they may have.