Vets unearth further foot-and-mouth outbreaks

British Ministry of Agriculture vets have discovered another possible outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in south Devon.

British Agriculture Minister Nick Brown says vets also believe the disease has spread from its likely origin at Burnside Farm in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, to a neighbouring farm.

He has stressed that the two infections have not been fully confirmed.

He has reported the vets are highlighting the importance of restricting movements of livestock around the country.

The suspected outbreak in Devon is at a cattle farm in Beaworthy, near Okehampton.

Symptoms of the disease have been found in the farm's herd of 600 cattle, but it is not yet known how many animals could be affected.

The outbreak has yet to be confirmed, and the British Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food says it is not known if there are links between the Beaworthy farm and those in Northumberland or Essex.

Sheep and goats on the site now also face slaughter, as they are also susceptible to foot-and-mouth.