Foot and mouth now ruled out at Feltwell farm

Farmers around West Norfolk and the wider region are breathing a sigh of relief after investigators ruled out foot and mouth as the cause of disease on a farm near Feltwell.

A statement issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) last night said that it was now thought another pig disease was responsible for the symptons spotted.

The statement said: "Following official testing at the UK national reference laboratory, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has negated suspicion of foot and mouth disease in pigs at a premises near Feltwell, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk. The 10 km Temporary Control Zone (foot and mouth disease) has been revoked.

"Suspicion of vesicular disease in pigs remains and a new Temporary Control Zone (Swine vesicular disease) has been declared."

The control zone had spanned a 10km radius going as far as Brandon, and was the first suspected outbreak in the UK since 2007.