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| Disease restrictions to be eased | Disease restrictions to be eased |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government's chief vet is to ease some animal restrictions imposed after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth, despite a seventh case being confirmed. | The government's chief vet is to ease some animal restrictions imposed after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth, despite a seventh case being confirmed. |
| From 1530 BST animals can be moved from farm to farm under licence in "low risk areas", but markets cannot be held. | From 1530 BST animals can be moved from farm to farm under licence in "low risk areas", but markets cannot be held. |
| However, restrictions remain in place in much of the south-east of England surrounding the Surrey outbreaks. | However, restrictions remain in place in much of the south-east of England surrounding the Surrey outbreaks. |
| Meanwhile, another case of bluetongue virus has been found at the Suffolk farm where it was confirmed earlier. | Meanwhile, another case of bluetongue virus has been found at the Suffolk farm where it was confirmed earlier. |
| Richard Storer, owner of the Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, near Ipswich, told BBC Radio Suffolk it had been "one hell of a week" for him and his family. | |
| "We've come through it and hopefully it's all over now," he said. | |
| "The blood samples, taken from the animals yesterday, will take some time before we know there are no other animals on the place with the virus." | |
| A surveillance zone covering parts of East Anglia and the East Midlands has been put in place to monitor bluetongue. | |
| 'Severe problems' | 'Severe problems' |
| Chief vet Debby Reynolds says she was aware of the devastating economic impact the foot-and-mouth restrictions were having on hill and upland farmers. | |
| FOOT-AND-MOUTH CASES Q&A: Foot-and-mouth Second Bluetongue case | |
| A seventh case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on Monday at a farm in Englefield Green, Surrey, but it is within the existing Egham protection zone. | |
| Mrs Reynolds said: "Our aim is to get farming back to normal when the risk is acceptable to do so." | Mrs Reynolds said: "Our aim is to get farming back to normal when the risk is acceptable to do so." |
| Movements will continue to be restricted in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Berkshire, Greater London, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said. | Movements will continue to be restricted in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Berkshire, Greater London, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said. |
| Meanwhile, officials are investigating a suspected foot-and-mouth case in the West Tytherly area, near Stockbridge, Hampshire. | Meanwhile, officials are investigating a suspected foot-and-mouth case in the West Tytherly area, near Stockbridge, Hampshire. |
| The National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said the relaxation of movements would be a relief to farmers and "should at least reduce the danger of this becoming a welfare and economic crisis for many farmers". | The National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said the relaxation of movements would be a relief to farmers and "should at least reduce the danger of this becoming a welfare and economic crisis for many farmers". |
| He added: "But we must remember that farmers across a large part of south-east England, where there is still a risk of FMD, remain unable to move their livestock, other than direct for slaughter, and still face very severe problems." | He added: "But we must remember that farmers across a large part of south-east England, where there is still a risk of FMD, remain unable to move their livestock, other than direct for slaughter, and still face very severe problems." |