Foot-and-mouth controls relaxed

The foot-and-mouth outbreak originated at Pirbright in Surrey

Foot-and-mouth restrictions have been lifted in parts of Surrey.

Surrey County Council said movement constraints that were put in place in Normandy and Elstead last summer were removed on Sunday.

Restrictions on Westwood Lane, Hook Farm and Willey Green Farm in Normandy, and Guinea Fields and Thistledown Farm in Elstead, have all been relaxed.

Eight farms were infected with the disease which escaped from laboratories run by the government at Pirbright.

MPs have called for lessons to be learnt following the outbreak which cost farmers millions due to restrictions on livestock movements.

Trading standards director Peter Denard said: "It is important to stress that foot-and-mouth restrictions do remain in place in the north of Surrey, around Egham, and some of the premises linked to the outbreak of the disease in September remain off limits.

"Notices are displayed prominently at the sites and there is no excuse for ignoring these restrictions. Anyone who does faces the prospect of prosecution. We have to keep land closed to make sure that it is completely free of foot-and-mouth."