FOREIGN sheep shearers are being fast-tracked through the immigration system this summer.

New entry rules led to fears that much of the UK flock would go unshorn, causing animal welfare problems.

Normally, about 500 shearers come to the UK, but the new rules had resulted in only one registering to travel.

However, the Home Office and Defra have now agreed to speed up processing times for Australian and New Zealand shearers. The 12-week process has been reduced to a maximum of three weeks, and those already working in the US and Europe will not have to return home to apply for the UK.

Peter Morris, National Sheep Association chief executive, said: “The welfare implications were huge and the difficulties faced by all UK sheep farmers would have been immense. No doubt there will still be challenges during the shearing season but, hopefully, the potential crisis has been averted.”