Animal Diseases Spreading - 24/09/2007

Sussex farmers are bracing themselves for some devastating news as Foot and Mouth tests are carried out in Petersfield. mnouth being carried out near Pertersfield on the Hampshire / Sussex border.

Carcass removed from a Suffolk farm will confirm the presence of Blue Tougne fo rthe first time in the UK but the most worrying for our county's farm workers are the tests for Foot and Mouth being carried out near Pertersfield on the Hampshire / Sussex border.

A 3km temporary control zone has been set up around premises near Petersfield, said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The development comes after 40 cattle were slaughtered at a farm on the Surrey-Berkshire border on Saturday after testing positive for the disease.

Farmers are now pleading for aid packages to be sent into the areas worst affected as the cull sand lack of visitors kill the farmers income.