FARMERS and rural communities were holding their breath last night after an outbreak of foot-and- mouth disease was confirmed in Britain.

A spokesman for Defra confirmed 60 cows on a farm near Guildford, Surrey, had tested positive for the disease.

The Government immediately imposed a ban on the movement of all cattle and pigs and a protection zone, three kilometres in radius, and a surveillance zone of 10 kilometres was placed around the farm.

A meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency contingencies committee was held last night to discuss the outbreak, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown taking part by telephone from his holiday in Dorset.

Last night North-East farming leaders were hoping the Government’s response would avoid a repeat of the disastrous 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis.

Richard Dodd, regional director of the Countryside Alliance, said: "After the last fiasco, you have to hope lessons have been learnt.

"We will soon see if the Government have got their act together this time.

"I am hopeful that they are acting quickly enough to stop it spreading."

And the chairman of the National Farmers’ Union livestock board for the North-East, Malcolm Corbett, said: "It’s a complete shock. Memories of the debacle of 2001 come flooding back.

"We hope that it is contained and they can stamp it out."

He added: "I’m very encouraged by the prompt response of the Government and the decision to ban livestock movements. That was the main mistake made last time around."

It was confirmed last night that all the cattle on the premises in Surrey will be culled.

A spokesman for Defra said: "Following an investigation of suspected vesicular disease by the Animal Health agency on a holding near Guildford in Surrey, laboratory results have indicated that the foot-and-mouth disease virus is present.

"Debby Reynolds, UK chief veterinary officer, has confirmed foot-and-mouth disease."

The spokesman added: "Nationally no animal movements are allowed except under licence, controls are in place on movement of animal carcasses, animal gatherings, shearing and dipping are restricted, and all farms must increase levels of biosecurity."

Last night it emerged that the farm involved had been under restrictions since late on Thursday evening when symptoms were reported to the local Animal Health office.

A 1km temporary restriction zone was placed around the premises earlier yesterday while investigations and testing were completed.

Last night’s developments will reawaken memories of the foot-and-mouth crisis which struck Britain in 2001, costing the country an estimated £8bn. The epidemic saw 2,000 cases of the disease in farms throughout the UK.

Around seven million sheep and cattle were killed in order to halt the spread of the disease.

Cumbria was the worst affected area of the country with more than 800 cases.

To prevent the spread of the disease, public rights of way across land were closed, causing huge losses in revenue for the tourism industry as well as for agriculture.

A spokesman for Defra refused to confirm the farm’s location.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said that Mr Brown will return from his holiday today to chair another Cobra meeting at the Cabinet Office.

She said: "Our top priority is to prevent the spread of this disease in order to protect farmers’ stock.

"The plans are tested and well-established."

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Disease killed livelihoods as well as animals

THE foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001 had a devastating impact on the UK’s farming industry and tourism.

The outbreak led to the slaughter of between 6.5 to 10 million animals, ruined many farmers and rural businesses and is estimated to have cost the country up to £8.5 billion.

The first case of the disease was confirmed at Cheale Meats abattoir in Little Warley, Essex, on February 20, 2001.

Within days it was traced back to a pig rearing business run at Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the- Wall, Northumberland. 

At the epidemic’s peak more than 2,000 farms were infected.

It was not until January 15, 2002 that the country was declared free of foot-and-mouth in an announcement described as removing a “long dark shadow from the countryside”.

A routine veterinary inspection at the abattoir had discovered the problem after “highly suspicious” signs of foot-and-mouth disease were found in 27 pigs.

The day after the first case was confirmed the Government banned all exports of live animals, meat and dairy products as did the European Commission.