British government vets have lifted tight foot-and-mouth restrictions on Northumberland farmers after completing extensive blood sampling of bloodstock.

Another case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Northumberland, bringing the total in the region to eight.

A third case of foot-and-mouth disease in three days in a region which was virus-free for months was tonight fuelling fears that other farms could be infected.

‘‘Draconian’’ new controls were today being imposed in Northumberland, Britain, to prevent further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.