FMD could return, Britain warned

Foot-and-mouth may return to Britain when sheep are brought down from the hills in autumn, the Meat and Livestock Commission there is warning.

The warning is one of the issues under discussion at an economic forecasting conference, the commission held for members of the Welsh farming industry in Aberystywth.

Commission spokesman Jon Bullock said: "The whole industry has got to be aware of the possibility that unless foot-and-mouth is leapt on very hard now we could find that it drags on and drags on.

"When farmers start putting the sheep on the hills down on to more lowland areas in winter we may find we get a resurgence.

"Foot-and-mouth hasn't yet been beaten.

"We are still getting new cases each day, and we have got to keep hammering at it to get it beaten."

Other issues under discussion will include the loss of the vital meat export market due to foot-and-mouth, and the disease's effect on breeding herds.