Fresh foot-and-mouth scare

Leicestershire had been disease free for four months

Tests are being carried out on cattle in Leicestershire after two suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease.

The threat of a new outbreak comes four months after the last confirmed case in the county.

Although initial tests have proved negative, farmers cannot be sure they are in the clear until a series of blood tests have been assessed.

News of the latest scare has sparked criticism from shadow agriculture secretary Tim Yeo who is calling on the government to address the situation as a matter of urgency.

This epidemic is not over. It hasn't gone away

Tim Yeo, shadow agriculture secretary

Emergency restrictions have been imposed on farms near Hinckley and Loughborough and 37 cattle have been slaughtered as a precaution.

There have so far been six confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth in Leicestershire, the most recent on 23 April.

Shadow agriculture secretary Tim Yeo told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is a reminder this epidemic is not over, it hasn't gone away.

"Even if these cases are not confirmed there is still a foot-and-mouth problem I'm afraid."

He said the government had not adopted a proper strategy to eradicate the problem.

"I think what we now need is for the Cabinet committee Cobra to be reconvened," he said.

Farmers' fears

"I think it's time Margaret Beckett came back from her holiday ... and that they publish the latest scientific advice, including the advice about vaccination."

Emergency restrictions have been extended to a three-kilometre radius of the farms under scrutiny.

Early investigations show there is no evidence of the animals in Leicestershire having come into contact with those in the so-called disease "hot spots" in the north of England.

Disease in the UK

Total cases: 2,013

Slaughtered: 3,854,000

Awaiting slaughter: 8,000

Awaiting disposal:1,000

But the National Farmers' Union's Trevor Foss said: "It's a terrible time and I know that farmers are absolutely worried to death.

"We need to get the information back to them as soon as possible.

"A positive result comes back a lot quicker than a negative so if we hear a result today then I'm afraid it might be bad news.

"The longer it goes on, the more chance we've got that it's going to go negative."