Show welcomes bluetongue jab zone

Organisers of an agricultural show in Cumbria have welcomed the expected extension of a bluetongue vaccination zone to the county.

A protection zone, already in force in other parts of the UK, will extend into Cumbria some time after 1 September.

Organisers of the Westmorland Show hope the move will be complete by 11 September, so livestock from most of England can be included in the event.

Currently the show cannot accept animals from vaccination areas.

The show's chief executive Christine Knipe said: "Basically, if we stay outside the vaccination zone designated by Defra, we will only be able to bring in livestock from Cumbria, Northumberland or Scotland.

Vaccine delivery

"But if we do go into the protection zone we will then be able to bring livestock from throughout the UK, apart from Scotland."