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| 'Trapped' sheep could face cull | 'Trapped' sheep could face cull |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands of sheep from a breed only produced in Kent and East Sussex could be culled because of restrictions on moving them. | Tens of thousands of sheep from a breed only produced in Kent and East Sussex could be culled because of restrictions on moving them. |
| Farmers said 100,000 Romney sheep were trapped on the marsh because it falls on the wrong side of the bluetongue control zone imposed on Sunday. | Farmers said 100,000 Romney sheep were trapped on the marsh because it falls on the wrong side of the bluetongue control zone imposed on Sunday. |
| The Romney sheep are normally moved out of the South East in the autumn before grass on the marsh stops growing. | The Romney sheep are normally moved out of the South East in the autumn before grass on the marsh stops growing. |
| "The government is working to find a solution," said Kent MP Jonathan Shaw. | "The government is working to find a solution," said Kent MP Jonathan Shaw. |
| "We know farmers are faced with huge pressures but we do have to have strict measures in place to stop the spread of diseases." | "We know farmers are faced with huge pressures but we do have to have strict measures in place to stop the spread of diseases." |
| There has either got to be a relaxation of the regulations or else people are going to have to get rid of animals because of the welfare situation Trevor Richards, farmer Bluetongue control area | There has either got to be a relaxation of the regulations or else people are going to have to get rid of animals because of the welfare situation Trevor Richards, farmer Bluetongue control area |
| Mr Shaw, a minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said it had to be guided by veterinary and scientific experts. | Mr Shaw, a minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said it had to be guided by veterinary and scientific experts. |
| Romney Marsh farmer Trevor Richards, who produces about 800 lambs a year and has 500 breeding ewes, said: "This is a unique sheep-producing area. | Romney Marsh farmer Trevor Richards, who produces about 800 lambs a year and has 500 breeding ewes, said: "This is a unique sheep-producing area. |
| "I don't think the government or Defra realise how unique we are and what an important time September and October is for selling these sheep. | "I don't think the government or Defra realise how unique we are and what an important time September and October is for selling these sheep. |
| "There has either got to be a relaxation of the regulations or else people are going to have to get rid of animals because of the welfare situation." | "There has either got to be a relaxation of the regulations or else people are going to have to get rid of animals because of the welfare situation." |
| Frank Langrish, a senior figure in the National Farmers' Union in the South East, said the problem began because of movement restrictions imposed after the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey. | Frank Langrish, a senior figure in the National Farmers' Union in the South East, said the problem began because of movement restrictions imposed after the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey. |
| 'Face ruin' | 'Face ruin' |
| Usually at this time of year, 50,000 sheep would already have gone from the area. | Usually at this time of year, 50,000 sheep would already have gone from the area. |
| He said farmers could still face ruin despite relaxation of foot-and-mouth restrictions on Monday night. | He said farmers could still face ruin despite relaxation of foot-and-mouth restrictions on Monday night. |
| He welcomed the fact that animals could now be moved from farm to farm as long as they were within the bluetongue control zone. | |
| "But it is not much of a relief," he added. | "But it is not much of a relief," he added. |
| "Because of the bluetongue regulations there is a line between East and West Sussex and none of these sheep can cross it. | "Because of the bluetongue regulations there is a line between East and West Sussex and none of these sheep can cross it. |
| "We lost all the abattoirs in this area in the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak and now we have to carry animals long distances to the west or to Wales." | "We lost all the abattoirs in this area in the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak and now we have to carry animals long distances to the west or to Wales." |
| Mr Shaw said the government, which was working "very closely" with the National Farmers' Union, was looking at the abattoirs problem. | Mr Shaw said the government, which was working "very closely" with the National Farmers' Union, was looking at the abattoirs problem. |