A fresh cull of livestock was in progress in Northumberland yesterday after a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth was confirmed in the area for the first time in nearly three months, writes Rachel Donnelly, in London
Three cows and their calves showing signs of the disease were slaughtered at Taylor Burn Farm, near Hexham, on Thursday, and livestock at five surrounding farms will also be destroyed.
An investigation by local veterinary surgeons is under way, but the outbreak is a severe blow to farmers in the area who had been hoping to achieve disease-free status in Northumberland.
The National Farmers' Union said it hoped the case was an isolated incident.
"Farmers in Northumberland are extremely upset by this news," a spokesman for the NFU said.
"However, isolated cases are not unexpected, and we have had similar isolated outbreaks of this kind recently in Wigan and Warrington.
"This is a stark reminder to all livestock producers and people visiting farms to ensure that they are continuing to do everything possible to guard animals against risk."
Grouse-shooting on the moors near the farm resumed earlier this month, but regional veterinary managers said shooting parties were unlikely to have brought the disease with them to the area, as they were subject to strict bio-security measures.