Blair calls foot-and-mouth crisis meeting

Children from a nursery disenfect their shoes

The foot and mouth crisis has deepened and widened with five more cases being confirmed on Wednesday - bringing the total to 17.

More sporting events and fixtures are under threat.

An emergency meeting of government ministers has been convened at Downing Street to look at ways of handling the crisis.

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown told Cabinet colleagues that the halt on livestock movements announced last Friday would be extended for at least another two weeks from this Friday, according to the Prime Minister's official spokesman.

Saturday's Six Nations international rugby union match between Wales and Ireland at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has been postponed.

Announcing the move, Six Nations organiser Allan Hosie said the decision followed extensive discussions involving the Irish government, Irish Rugby Football Union and their Welsh counterparts.

And after last weekend's requests not to move round the countryside, the ministry of agriculture has announced that footpaths and rights of way may be placed off-limits under new powers introduced to try to combat foot and mouth.