Farm E.coli twin leaves hospital

Tracy Mock said she was very pleased Todd was being allowed home

One of the two-year-old twin boys who suffered kidney failure after contracting E.coli at a Surrey petting farm has left hospital.

Todd Furnell, from Paddock Wood, in Kent, underwent dialysis at St Thomas's Hospital in London after he and his twin caught the O157 infection.

His brother Aaron still remains in hospital on a drip.

The number of E.coli cases linked to Godstone Farm, near Redhill, has risen to 79.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said three more people had reported symptoms of the O157 infection.

'Doing really well'

Three children, including Aaron, who caught the bug are still in hospital and in a stable condition.

The twins' mother Tracy Mock told the BBC she was staying at St Thomas's with Aaron while her partner took Todd home to Paddock Wood.

She added: "Todd's going home today which I'm really pleased about. He's doing really well.

"Unfortunately Aaron has got to stay in. He's still on dialysis. Todd's got to come back up [to hospital] on Tuesday for a check up so he will be able to see his brother then."

Tests have shown the bug was present in animal droppings collected at the farm.

Four farms across England have closed since the outbreak at Godstone.

Delayed incubation

The other three are Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom, White Post Farm in Nottinghamshire and the World of Country Life in Exmouth, Devon.

Twins Todd [left] and Aaron Furnell both suffered acute kidney failure

Previously, the HPA said it expected people to continue coming forward with symptoms for some time, because the bug had a delayed incubation period.

Tests by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) involved 102 samples being taken from Godstone Farm.

Out of those, 33 were found to contain the bug.

The positive samples came from ewes, lambs, pigs, goats, cattle, ponies and rabbits, the VLA said.

One of the families affected has instructed solicitors to pursue a negligence claim against the owners of Godstone Farm.