Restrictions eased on farms

Restrictions put in place to help prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease and bluetongue will be eased from next week, it was announced yesterday.

The Government said a 3km protection zone around farms infected with foot and mouth in Egham, Surrey, would be lifted on Wednesday provided there were no more suspected cases.

In addition, controls on the movement of livestock in low risk areas would be removed - giving a welcome boost to thousands of farmers around the country.

The Government also announced changes in restrictions brought in following the outbreak of bluetongue in farms in the south east of England.

Markets within the bluetongue control and protection zones - which stretch from Lincolnshire to East Sussex - are to be permitted from midnight on Sunday.