‘Blood container’ found amid disease-for-sale probe

A container apparently filled with blood has been found on a hillside - raising fears that foot-and-mouth disease is being spread deliberately.

Retired farmer Alan Thomas, 68, found the container and two blood-stained gloves on common land at Llangattock near Crickhowell, mid Wales, close to a cluster of cases.

A spokesman for the Farmers’s Union of Wales said: ‘‘There has been no firm evidence that the disease is being spread deliberately, but we have asked the police to investigate.

‘‘There has been no blood testing at the land so there is no reason for these items to be there.’’

Mr Thomas said: ‘‘This is too suspicious. I definitely think someone is trying to spread the disease deliberately. The container and gloves didn’t walk there, someone must have put them there.’’

A spokesman for Dyfed Powys Police said: ‘‘We had a phone call saying Mr Thomas had found some suspicious items at Llangattock. We are investigating and a police officer has been out to see him.’’

The force is also investigating a claim that another farmer was offered the chance to buy a sheep infected with foot-and-mouth disease for £2,000.

Dyfed Powys Police have contacted Nuala Preston, 39, of Trefoel Stud Farm in Newport, Pembrokeshire, after reports that she received a telephone call from a man who offered to sell her the infected sheep.

He reportedly told her the animal could be used to spread the disease among her flock so that she could claim compensation.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed Powys Police said: ‘‘We have contacted the farmer involved and we are now investigating the source of the phone call.’’

Meanwhile, farmers were anxiously awaiting the results of blood tests among 6,000 sheep on the Brecon Beacons.

The tests follow the slaughter of 4,000 animals at the Welsh beauty spot over the weekend after blood tests for sheep in five areas of the mountain range showed a significant number of positive results.

Welsh Assembly officials said a further mass cull was the worst case scenario.

Sheep are still being gathered and the results are expected in the next few days.