Mass cull due to be announced in Britain

British Agriculture Minister Nick Brown is expected to announce a "pre-emptive strike" against foot-and-mouth disease.

It is expected to involve the cull of up to 100,000 animals which might have come into contact with infected livestock.

The Prince of Wales has announced a £500,000 aid package for farmers to ease the plight of farmers under severe strain from the outbreak.

And export controls to stop the disease spreading outside Europe have been stepped up, as the impact on Britain's tourist industry was put at some £250m a week.

Meanwhile, the British Government signalled it would go ahead with the May 3 local elections, despite mounting pressure to cancel them and a possible general election on the same date.

The plans for a "pre-emptive strike" were welcomed by the National Farmers Union as the virus tightened its grip on Britain, with 26 new outbreaks announced yesterday, bringing the overall UK total to 231.

The Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food has confirmed 230 cases in the UK and one in Northern Ireland.

One further case in Llanfair Caereinion was announced to the Welsh Assembly, but has not yet been confirmed by the ministry.

The new outbreaks included a case in Cheshire, which was previously disease-free.

Mr Brown said yesterday there was "an emerging possibility" that some restrictions could be lifted in areas which were free of the virus. They have already been eased in Northern Ireland.

Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore revealed that almost 190,000 animals had been earmarked for slaughter, with 132,000 of them already killed.

Tony Blair says the possibility of stepping up the slaughter in those areas most directly affected is being considered.