Slaughter continues in effort to stop FMD spreading

The crisis over foot-and-mouth in the North has again deepened with news that animals on a farm in the Co Antrim village of Newtown-Crommelin are being slaughtered.

Department of Agriculture vets say they are concerned the disease is spreading through thee illegal movement of cattle and that some farmers are not reporting possible cases of the disease.

Brid Rodgers, the North's Minister for Agriculture, has asked that all farms be sealed off to prevent the spread of thee virus.

More animals than had previously been thought are being killed as a result of the Ardboe outbreak in Co Tyrone.

Two further suspect cases in the area are being examined.

Pyres of straw, diesel, car tyres, wooden pallets and railway sleepers are being used to burn dead animals in Tyrone.

The numbers of uninfected animals to be slaughtered has risen from four to sixteen thousand - these carcasses will be rendered in Belfast.

In Cushendall, Co Antrim, an initial cull has finished and thee animals bodies are due to bee burnt shortly. Containment in the area will be difficult with sheep roaming the mountains of the Glens of Antrim.

Traffic is being diverted and cars disinfected on the roads.

An emergency meeting of the North's executive has been taking place at Stormont.

Speaking before the meeting, the trade and industry minister, Reg Empey, expressed his sympathy to those involved in tourism who, he said, were the hidden victims