Scotland introduces new foot-and-mouth measures

Disinfecting stations are being set up on main roads surrounding Scotland's foot-and-mouth hotspot as part of heightened measures to contain the outbreak.

Ten metre thick-pile rubber mats soaked with disinfectant are being placed at five locations around the Eskdale and Annandale areas of Dumfries and Galloway. The sites will be supervised 24 hours a day.

The cordon is being set up as the number of confirmed cases in the region, still the only infected part of Scotland, stood at 26.

Motorists are being warned of delays as vehicles move through the stations and were asked to stagger their journeys. The mats will cover one side of the carriageway and traffic will be directed to slow down as motorists pass through.

Deputy Chief Constable Bob Ovens said: "Advice from the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department is that, on minor roads, disinfectant soaked mats can help prevent the spread of FMD.

"We are now stepping up this protection by placing these sites on trunk roads to try and contain the spread of the disease.

"I would ask motorists to be patient as these disinfecting points will inevitably lead to delays and some queuing traffic."

The five stations are at: A7 near to Terrona, north of Langholm; A75 east of Dumfries; A709 east of Dumfries bypass; A701 north of Dumfries bypass; and A701 north of Moffat.