Bluetongue disease fears growing

There are fears of a full-scale outbreak of the bluetongue animal disease in the North.

The North's Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew has confirmed that the disease has been identified in four further animals.

A total of 27 animals will now be culled on a farm in north Antrim in an attempt to stop the virus spreading.

The first case of the disease was confirmed at the same farm last week in a cow imported from the Netherlands.

Bluetongue, which is spread by midges, swept across northern Europe last year, reaching parts of England in September.