Tenth foot and mouth case found

Another case of foot and mouth has been confirmed, bringing the total number in the outbreak across the country to ten.

The new case, at a farm in Westerhope, Northumberland, comes after Ministry of Agriculture officials confirmed two more outbreaks this morning, in Bromham in Wiltshire and at a farm in Hatherleigh in Devon.

It is believed that the disease, which was found in cattle at the farm, was spread on the wind from the Heddon-on-the-Wall pig farm about five miles away, which is believed to be source of the outbreak.

A five-mile exclusion zone has been put up around the Westerhope farm and six-mile zones have been put up around the other two farms. Officials do not know how many animals are affected in the latest case.

Both the earlier cases were related to an outbreak at Burdon Farm, Highampton, Devon, a MAFF spokesman said. The Burdon Farm outbreak sparked fears the disease might have spread to Europe.

The sheep and cattle farm is part of a chain of 13 in Devon and Cornwall owned by a sheep dealer who exports animals to Europe.

A MAFFspokeswoman said the Wiltshire outbreak was triggered by infected sheep, although it is uncertain which animals were involved at Hatherleigh.

Chief veterinary officer Jim Scudamore said the Government will have to trace the movement of thousands of animals out of Hexham and Carlisle markets to find the source.

He said it looked as if the infected animals moved from Northumberland to Devon between February 13 and 16.

Meanwhile, pyres were lit last night at Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, and Little Warley in Essex to burn slaughtered animals.