North's agriculture committee recalled

The Stormont Assembly's agriculture committee has been recalled to discuss the deepening crisis over foot-and-mouth.

Chairman Ian Paisley said a small number of farmers are holding the North to ransom by illegally moving livestock.

Hundreds of blood tests are being carried out in the Glens of Antrim to find out if wandering sheep in the mountains are carrying the disease.

The North's Agriculture Minister, Brid Rodgers, said the strain of foot-and-mouth is being carried by sheep and is extremely difficult to diagnose without blood tests.