Foot and Mouth tests are negative

The zoo at Chessington World of Adventures and a farm in Kent have been given the all clear following yesterday’s Foot and Mouth alerts.

Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) were placed around both sites yesterday after vets were called in to see whether animals were carrying the disease. However, chief vet Debby Reynolds has just announced that initial tests have come back negative, and it is expected that the TCZ can now be lifted.

Farmers Weekly magazine has launched a special online news page for concerned farmers, and is conducting a poll for farmers on whether they think Defra is doing enough to contain the disease.

Meanwhile, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is urging farmers not to drop their guard, despite these false alarms.