Suspected foot and mouth outbreak in North

A suspected foot and mouth outbreak in the North is being investigated, according to Stormont Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers.

About 20 sheep from a farm in south Armagh are to be incinerated after lesions were reportedly found on their body.

It is understood the animals arrived from a market in Carlisle a fortnight ago.

The entire area around the farm has been sealed off.

Department of Agriculture officials are also trying to trace a consignment of sheep from England, which may have crossed the border last week.

The news comes as four more cases are confirmed in Britain - two in Wales and one apiece in Herefordshire and Lancashire.

The Department of Agriculture has set up a number of helplines which will operate from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday and 9am to 1pm on Sunday. To assist which specific queries on the current situation. The phone numbers are as follows:

Milk and Milk products [phone]

Pigmeat and Pigmeat products [phone]

Meat and Meat products [phone]

Live animals [phone]

Products general [phone]