Slaughter begins to wipe out foot-and-mouth

The mass slaughter of thousands of pigs and cattle on eight farms across England has begun in a bid to wipe out foot-and-mouth disease.

Britain's chief veterinary officer Mr Jim Scudamore says the slaughter is likely to run to thousands of animals.

The slaughter began on the six confirmed outbreak sites and two dangerous contacts he said.

The contact farms, one near the confirmed outbreak in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, and one in north Kent, have not been confirmed as having the disease.

PA