British Government presses case for mass slaughter

The British Government has vowed to continue with plans for the controversial mass slaughter of healthy animals which may have come into contact with foot-and-mouth disease.

It came as a farming lobby group, Farmers for Action, promised legal action to stop the 3km-wide cull around centres of infection.

As the toll of the disease rose to 282 confirmed cases, including one in Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Agriculture said it was just a matter of ensuring understanding among individual farmers.

Speaking at a briefing at MAFF HQ, Agriculture minister Baroness Hayman said Chief Vet Jim Scudamore's Monday visit to the Cumbria area would alleviate any misunderstanding.

She said: "A third of all the cases have been identified in the Cumbria and Dumfries, and Galloway areas and that of course explains the background to the veterinary assessment that sheep and pigs in that area are at high risk.

"They have been exposed to infection and that means they may develop the disease or may have it sub-clinically or maybe carrying it. "

The Army's Logistical Planning group is still working to help put in place the continuing attempts to control the outbreak.

Deputy Chief Vet Richard Cawthorne said there were more movements than had originally been envisaged, which was making its control even harder.