Foot and mouth: 12th case confirmed

The total number of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease has risen to 12 in the UK.

The British Agriculture Minister, Nick Brown had just informed MPs that the number of cases had risen to 11 when news came in that a further case had been confirmed to him.

The latest case is linked to a farm in Okehampton, Devon.

The Minister pledged: "The Government is determined to eliminate the disease".

He stressed that cases arising today were in sheep at Hatherleigh near Okehampton; at Bromham, Wiltshire in sheep at an abattoir which received animals from the Devon source; in a farm in Northumberland, which is likely to have been windborne spread; and at a farm near the Welsh border in Herefordshire.

Mr Brown said that infected area restrictions were being imposed and at lunchtime a decision was taken to kill the remaining animals on several premises in Devon under the same ownership and one neighbouring farm, as dangerous contacts.

Shadow agriculture minister Tim Yeo said the Opposition would "fully support" the steps taken by the Government to contain and eradicate the disease.

The Tories plan a half-day Commons debate on the issue, later this week, he added.