Foot and Mouth Disease has been confirmed this morning on a pig farm in Heddon-on-the-Wall in Tyne and Wear. The farm had supplied pigs to the abattoir in Essex where the Foot and Mouth Disease was first confirmed on Tuesday.

The disease appears to have been present on the farm for some time. It is feasible that this may be the source of the infection at the abattoir in Essex. Investigations are continuing.

A further case of Foot and Mouth Disease has also been confirmed in the parish of Canundon in Essex. This brings the total number of current cases of Foot and Mouth Disease to five.