Farm disease control zones lifted

Cattle can be moved between farms in low-risk areas

Two temporary control zones outside Surrey have been lifted after animals tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease, Defra has said.

The results in Hampshire and West Sussex mean the disease has not spread since the Surrey outbreak in August.

However, animal movement restrictions remain in much of south-east England following the Surrey cases.

Meanwhile, another case of bluetongue virus has been found at the Suffolk farm where it was confirmed earlier.

'Acceptable risk'

A seventh case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on Monday at a farm in Englefield Green, Surrey, but it is inside the existing protection zone at Egham.

Movement restrictions are due to be lifted across Wales, Scotland and large parts of England from 1530 BST, although markets still cannot be held.

Chief vet Debby Reynolds said: "Our aim is to get farming back to normal when the risk is acceptable to do so."

The restrictions apply to Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Berkshire, Greater London, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex.

'Come through'

A surveillance zone covering parts of East Anglia and the East Midlands has been put in place to monitor bluetongue.

Richard Storer, owner of the Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, near Ipswich, told BBC Radio Suffolk it had been "one hell of a week" for him and his family.

"We've come through it and hopefully it's all over now," he said.

"The blood samples, taken from the animals yesterday, will take some time before we know there are no other animals on the place with the virus."