Brown set to announce livestock movement ban

British Agriculture Minister Nick Brown is expected to order a seven-day ban on all movements of livestock within Britain.

Peter Kingwill, chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers' Association, said a formal announcement is expected soon.

The news comes as Government scientists close in on the source of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Investigators are continuing to focus on the possibility a pig farm in Northumberland may have been responsible for spreading the disease.

The potent virus increased its grip on Britain's farming industry as animals at the Northumberland farm and a third one in Essex were confirmed to be suffering from foot-and-mouth.

Scotland also suffered its first suspected cases of foot-and-mouth as investigators converged on a number of sites.

In England, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said foot-and-mouth had now been confirmed at the farm in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, thought to be the possible source for the outbreak.

Mr Brown said he believed MAFF officials had traced the source of the outbreak but he was still unable to confirm anything.

He said discussions were continuing within the Government and a comprehensive statement would be made.

Earlier, A MAFF spokesman said animals at the Heddon-on-the-Wall farm may have had the disease for some time.