More fish movements are permitted

Thousands of rainbow trout were destroyed

A ban on live fish movements across North Yorkshire is being further relaxed, Defra has announced.

Tests have been going on for more than a month after cases of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) were discovered and a movements ban imposed.

Since then, as more tests have proved negative, limited movement of live fish has been reintroduced.

Fish farms on the Aire, Derwent and Wharfe river systems can now move live fish to other farms on the same rivers.

Fatal to fish

Further test results should be available within a few days and Defra says it will then reconsider the entire banning order.

VHS can be fatal to fish but is harmless to humans.

Millions of baby fish, bred for restocking, faced being culled as they outgrew their breeding tanks.

Thousands more were killed as a precautionary measure in the immediate area of the first confirmed case, at Nidderdale.

Trout farmers said they faced bankruptcy at an important time of the year for their industry.