Mass cull begins on Welsh border

Carwyn Jones could call on the Army to help in mid Wales

A mass cull of 10,000 sheep and 500 cattle is under way on the Welsh border with Herefordshire.

MAFF vets said the animals are being put down because of "dangerous contacts" with an outbreak at Peterstow, near Ross-on-Wye.

The animals belong to farms just across the Monmouthshire border and it is understood they belong to a farming family who also deal in sheep.

Meanwhile, farmers on Anglesey are waiting to find out if they face a mass cull of sheep to prevent the further spread of foot-and-mouth on the island.

Union leaders have accepted that a cull is inevitable on the island, which is the worst-hit area in Wales, with 12 cases so far.

They have said they want the slaughter over and done with as soon as possible.

The Farmers Union of Wales has reacted with dismay at news that the outbreak is unlikely to peak until May at the earliest.

However, the decision to cull will be taken on the basis of tests carried out to assess how the virus has spread so far.

The total number in Wales now stands at 34, with three new cases in Powys at Upper Wern-y-Pentre, Clyro, and Llanynys in Builth Wells, and Church Stoke.

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The latest outbreak in Anglesey is at a farm at Tyddyn Isaf in Llangaffo and brings the number of confirmed cases of the virus there to 12.

Until now, foot-and-mouth cases on the island have been confined to an abattoir and individual farms.

But now it has reached common land on the coast where tens of thousands of sheep are grazing.

Welsh Assembly Agriculture Minister Carwyn Jones has held discussions with the army logistics experts in Brecon to see whether they could assist with the cull of animals in Montgomeryshire.

He is also now considering the use of troops to dispose of carcasses.

We must always listen to the best scientific advice possible, and if that advice is to order a cull then we must comply

Bob Parry, FUW president

After attending crisis talks with the Prime Minister and the farming unions he said: "We've had assurances that where help was needed from the army we need only ask."

Mr Jones said "excellent progress" had been made on the welfare disposal scheme for animal and compensation payments for farmers who have lost animals.

As the number of confirmed cases increases across Wales, steps are being taken to re-open the countryside.

The Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans and Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay have re-opened after several weeks that have seen mounting losses.

The museum has signed up to the Tourism Charter aimed at allowing attractions in non-infected areas to operate as normal without increasing the spread of the disease.

Tourism employs 100,000 people in Wales - about 10% of the workforce - and pumps £2bn a year into the economy.