Another new foot-and-mouth outbreak in Devon

Another new case of foot-and-mouth has been confirmed in Devon, bringing to 89 the county's total number of outbreaks.

The new case is at East Cheldon Farm, at Cheldon, Chumleigh, where 58 cattle will now have to be valued and slaughtered.

Britain's Ministry of Agriculture officials in Devon say they are still considering possible locations for a central disposal site for carcasses.

The British Ministry has confirmed 60 new cases of foot-and-mouth across the United Kingdom, bringing the national total to 841.

A spokesman says more than 832,000 animals have been earmarked for slaughter since the outbreak began, with 542,000 already killed.

Meanwhile, a British army source says the Ministry is today expected to announce a change of policy which will mean that cattle affected by the foot-and mouth crisis will not have to be burned after slaughter, but could be buried instead.

It had been feared that burying cattle was hazardous because of the risk that they were infected with BSE, but MAFF is expected to give the go-ahead for the burial of cattle which are less than five years old.

The army source says: "This announcement, expected about lunchtime, will considerably speed up disposal."