Soldiers join foot-and-mouth frontline

Soldiers have been drafted in to help in the new battle against foot-and-mouth disease in North East England.

Teams from the Royal Artillery will help Government staff manage the crisis in Northumberland from this morning.

It is understood the soldiers will be assisting in the logistical task of culling thousands of affected animals as soon as possible in order to curb the latest outbreak.

The National Farmer’s Union has welcomed the operation, in which soldiers will liase between officials, farmers and slaughter men.