Scottish outbreak spreads

There are now 37 confirmed cases across the UK

The foot-and-mouth crisis in Scotland deepened on Friday with the identification of the disease at a third farm.

The Scottish Executive confirmed it had been found on a farm in the south west of the country.

News of the spreading outbreak came as four new cases were confirmed in other parts of the UK, taking the total number of cases to 37.

The latest farm in Scotland to be affected is near Twynholm in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Ross Finnie: Ban unlikely to be lifted on Friday

An executive spokesman said: "Movement restrictions have been applied to the farm and a stand-still notice is in effect for a 10-mile radius around the farm, which extends into the existing infected area around Northumberland and Cumbria.

"The effect of this is that there will be no movement of susceptible livestock into, out of or within this area.

"The cattle at the farm will be valued for compensation before slaughter and disposal."

The results of tests at farms in the Falkirk area, central Scotland, were also being anxiously awaited on Friday.

But despite the new cases there is to be a relaxation of the ban on the movement of livestock south of the Border.

Ministers are to give details of a scheme which will allow the limited transportation of livestock from farms to abattoirs from Monday.

Disinfectant is in increasingly short supply

Farmers are to be granted licences to help ensure the transportation of animals is carried out safely.

However, executive rural affairs minister Ross Finnie said an announcement of a licensing scheme was unlikely to be made in Scotland on Friday.

"We are having a very difficult balance here," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

Mr Finnie said he understood the argument in favour of opening up the supply chain so unaffected meat could go to supermarket shelves.

But he added: "The trick is how we are going to balance licensed and heavily supervised movement and not cut across our no-movement policy, which is intended to ensure there is no further spread of the disease.

"We are working very hard on that, and I hope we will be able to make an announcement reasonably soon."

Meanwhile, across the country many agricultural merchants have reported limited or no supplies of disinfectant.

The demand from farmers has been bolstered by organisations ranging from zoos to youth hostels.