Westlife banned from returning to Ireland

Westlife have been banned from returning to Ireland because of foot-and-mouth disease.

The band are in the middle of a UK tour.

But they will be unable to go home on their days off.

Band member Nicky told Worldpop: "People in Ireland are afraid we'll bring home foot-and-mouth disease.

"Everything's been cancelled back home, all the St Patrick's Day parades and stuff are off."

There are also concerns that many of this year's UK summer festivals may have to be called off.

The Homelands festival in Winchester on May 26 featuring Pulp and Orbital is one of those said to be in doubt.

Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis says his event would definitely have been cancelled because of the outbreak had it been taking place this year.

He says it would have caused him "lost millions" in revenue.