Crisis strands farm animals

Hundreds of animals from Shropshire and Mid Wales are stranded in pens at Oswestry's livestock market as the foot-and-mouth restrictions dealt a critical blow to the region.About 1,500 sheep and 70 to 80 cattle were unable to leave the market last night when all movements of livestock were halted in the light of yesterday's foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Although temporary movement licences were granted during the evening to allow some of the animals to leave, market officials said the remainder were expected to be moved during today.

They, and heads of the farming industry, say the new outbreak could not have come at a worse time.

Although Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave his assurance that everything was being done to combat the outbreak, the Government faced stiff criticism today over its speed in declaring the country foot and mouth free as tests indicated the latest outbreak involved the same strain of the virus which struck two farms last month.

A second cull of livestock on land neighbouring the farm at Egham in Surrey was under way today as experts tried to determine the cause of the outbreak.

Oswestry Market manager Wyn Morton said September should be one of the busiest months for farmers.

"They have been building up to these coming weeks and this is a devastating blow," he explained. "The farmers from the Oswestry hill farms and into Wales depend on markets like ours to sell their animals."

Market officials and stock owners worked through the afternoon to ensure special licences were issued for some animals.

However, Mr Morton said that others had to stay at the market overnight.

"We had between 70 and 80 cattle and 1,500 sheep overnight. They will be moved sometime today," he said.

"We have the facilities to cope with livestock overnight and they were all fed and watered and bedded down for the night."

At Welshpool Livestock Market, a sale of 10,000 ewes was halted yesterday and a planned sale of 7,000 ewe lambs today had to be cancelled. Auctioneer Keith Davies said today: "It was a real blow, everybody was in shock when we heard."

By Sue Austin and Deborah Knox