S.Yorks farmers can move livestock

Debby Reynolds said the collection of dead animals from farms outside the outbreak area in Surrey was to be permitted from midnight last night.

The movement of cattle directly from farms to slaughterhouses will also be allowed outside the Surrey protection and surveillance zones but only under “stringent“ bio-security rules.

Dr Reynolds also announced that culling has been ordered on a third farm close to the first and second farms already affected.

Her announcement will provide some relief for hard-pressed South Yorkshire farmers. Doncaster farmer Russell Toothill had warned his livestock could be left rotting in his fields as a result of the movement ban. Before the easing of the restriction he was neither allowed to move dead cattle away for incineration or bury them on his farm.

Mr Toothill is one of dozens of farmers who look after livestock in Doncaster and has around 2,000 sheep at his Ivy House farm on Auckley.