CONSUMER services officers and police are patrolling the edge of the foot-and-mouth restriction zone in County Durham.

The Blue Box zone includes an area north and west of Stanhope, and north of the A689 up to the borders with Northumberland and Cumbria.

Farmers are being urged to observe the movement and bio-security measures imposed by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Philip Holman, head of Durham County Council's consumer services, said: "Regular patrols are taking place to ensure that no unlicensed movements of animals, feed, milk, silage or slurry take place.

"Any vehicles entering or leaving farms with livestock susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease must also be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected.

"My officers are also checking that disinfectant footpaths are present and that adequate cleansing and disinfection arrangements are in place at the entrances to livestock farms.

"Anyone found breaking the controls on movements, the cleansing and disinfection of vehicles when leaving farms, or not having the other measures in place, is being warned.

"These controls are in place to stop the spread of the disease. Anyone failing to comply with the control measures faces possible prosecution."

Read more about foot-and-mouth here.