Penguins back on parade

The penguins are a popular attraction

Penguins are set to go on parade again at Edinburgh Zoo after foot-and-mouth restrictions were lifted.

The popular parade is among the attractions which will be re-instated at the zoo.

Barriers are being replaced with extra fencing around animals at risk from foot-and-mouth, but they will be put on show to the public again.

Restrictions have been eased in the Borders

The news came as the Scottish Executive announced that more than 450 farms in the Scottish Borders have had their Infected Area status removed.

An area near Duns is the only part of the region still affected.

However, the executive warned against complacency and said people should continue to be vigilant.

Eleven of the 187 Scottish foot-and-mouth cases were found in the Borders, the most recent being confirmed on Wednesday at Crunklaw Farm, near Duns.

All the other cases were in Dumfries and Galloway, where hundreds of farms are moving onto the clean up stage.

Rural development minister Ross Finnie said the lifting of Infected Area restrictions was an important step in the Borders' recovery from the outbreak.

I must repeat that this does not signal a return to normality

Ross Finnie
Rural development minister

"This is excellent news. It will come as a great relief to farmers in the Borders who have been subject to Infected Area restrictions for quite some time now," he said.

"However, I must repeat that this does not signal a return to normality.

"Farmers, feed suppliers, travellers and other farm visitors must remain vigilant and undertake all the necessary cleansing, disinfection and other precautions necessary to safeguard farm stock against this disease.

"Everything must be done to avoid fresh outbreaks which, of course, would lead to the re-imposition of Infected Area restrictions."

The lifting of the restrictions means that part of the Borders is now designated an at risk area.

Farmers will be able to carry out longer distance movements of livestock, and move livestock around their farms and over short distances between steadings.