All livestock movements in Britain have been stopped amid fearsthe foot and mouth outbreak is spreading rapidly, British Agriculture Secretary Mr Nick Brown announced.
Horse racing in Newcastle due to take place on Monday has also been called off over the crisis.
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The seven-day ban was introduced as a sixth case of the virus was confirmed in a farm in the North East and was due to come into force from 5pm tonight.
Health chiefs believe they have traced the source of the disease and fearthe outbreak may have started at least 14 days ago - longer than previously thought.
The sixth outbreak - this time affecting cattle - was discovered in Ponteland, Northumberland, only four miles away from the Heddon-on-the-Wall outbreak.
Investigators believe this case farm may also prove to be the initial source of the outbreak.
A farm in Canundon, Essex, was also confirmed to have animals suffering from foot-and-mouth.
The latest cases have raised fears of just how widespread the disease may now be.
Foot-and-mouth was first confirmed at the Cheale Meats abattoir in Little Warley, Essex, on Tuesday. It later spread to an adjacent farm on the same complex before reaching another farm at nearby Great Warley.
It also emerged today a pig farm in Aberdeenshire is among several in Scotland which have been scrutinised.
The Scottish Executive said checks had been carried out at a number of farms but there were no confirmed cases north of the border.
PA