Foot-and-mouth spreads further

The infected animals have been slaughtered

Vets have voiced concerns after the discovery of a fresh foot-and-mouth outbreak more than 20 miles from the nearest case in Scotland.

Three new cases were confirmed in Dumfries and Galloway on Friday, taking the Scottish total to 152.

The news - which was greeted with disappointment - came as Scotland's tourist industry said early indications suggested that people were starting to get back out into the countryside.

Vets in the region said they were particularly concerned about the outbreak in Portpatrick, more than 20 miles away from the nearest case at Whithorn.

A child heeds a warning sign in the Borders

The animals involved were slaughtered on Thursday on suspicion of infection, but the disease was not confirmed until the following day.

Officials had received a boost going into the weekend, with no new Scottish cases of the disease confirmed on Thursday - the first 'disease-free' day in six weeks.

The Easter holiday weekend is being seen as a crucial period for Scotland's tourist industry, with officials hoping that the public will not be deterred from visiting the country's many tourist attractions and places of natural beauty.

Visitor centres round the country are reporting a busier week than this time last year.

However, there are fewer people from overseas, bearing out indications that the disease is deterring foreign visitors.

Large numbers of outdoor activities are open for business, including the West Highland Way and many forest walks.

'Relatively small'

Efforts to stamp out the disease in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway are continuing, amid hopes that the disease is on the decline.

David Crawley, the Scottish Executive's head of food and agriculture, said the number of new cases had been "relatively small" in recent days.

"The general picture is that good progress has been made and we are working very hard on the containment and culling strategy," he said.

"There are signs that is delivering success."

Ross Finnie: "Eradicate the disease"

Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie pledged there would be no let-up in the battle to contain the disease, despite the pleas of hill farmers in the Borders anxious to protect some of the oldest and rarest breeds of sheep in Britain.

During a visit to Dumfries on Thursday, Mr Finnie said: "I have to say the overriding objective of this policy - and it's a very difficult and harsh policy for individuals - has to be that we eliminate the disease.

"The final analysis is that if any animal poses a threat to our overall strategy, then I regret to say we would have to continue with our cull policy and we will not be moved on that."

Alternative measures

Farmers of Borders hill flocks, who held a meeting on Thursday with National Farmers' Union of Scotland President Jim Walker, said they would ask the Scottish Executive to look at ways of protecting "irreplaceable" breeds from being slaughtered.

The farmers want to see alternative measures, including a vaccination programme, considered for the flocks.

They include the native South Country Cheviot breed, believed to be the original white-faced sheep introduced into Scotland in the 13th Century.

Hill farmer Andrew Douglas, from Saughtree, Newcastleton, said: "These are sheep that are specially bred to the hills - they are not replaceable.

"We will now consider how we take this forward."