NO livestock markets will be allowed this autumn - but there will be more animal movements between farms to avoid welfare problems among sheep and cattle on the hills.

Lord Whitty, Food Chain Minister, this week also announced talks about the individual identification of all sheep. He was speaking on Tuesday when the number of foot-and-mouth cases near Hexham had risen to 13.

The minister said the disease must be stamped out as rapidly as possible but recognised that autumn was traditionally the busiest time of year for livestock movements

If none took place, very substantial numbers of sheep and cattle would be left on the hills where they would inevitably face welfare problems.

He announced that "provisionally-free" areas, and "at risk" areas would be replaced by counties and at-risk counties.

Affected areas would remain as now, but smaller "high risk" areas such as Cumbria, Northumberland and Powys would be introduced.

The government would also consider splitting counties to allow part of them to be put into a higher category if necessary.

Lord Whitty said the government had hoped live cattle and sheep markets would be possible this autumn, but that had now been ruled out. It would, however, look at introducing live cattle marts in the "free" counties in the new year.

"We will permit the movement of cattle through a collecting centre to a single destination where they are pre-sold," said Lord Whitty.

Local authority licensing would be required for all movements. Cattle and pigs in "free"' and "at risk" counties would not require a veterinary inspection before being moved."But cattle and pigs in high risk counties and all other stock, ie sheep, will have to be inspected by a local veterinary inspector," said Lord Whitty. Defra would pay for such inspections.

All movements will be subject to strict biosecurity controls. Movements which start and end in the "free" county will be limited to 250 miles. Those in at risk counties will have a 150 mile limit.

In high risk counties, movements will be restricted to the county itself. Farmers will not be allowed to move stock off their farm within 21 days of the stock being moved on -that rule will remain.

Lord Whitty said multiple movements off-farm would be discussed with the industry. Ultimately, the government wanted reliable traceability of all animals, including sheep. Talks would be held to see how this could be achieved.

Sheep moving in or from high risk or at risk counties, would have to come from a blood-tested flock. Farmers would be told next week how this would work.

The minister said that, although some trading would be possible, not all farmers who wanted to move sheep this autumn would be able to.

Welfare problems would need to be avoided and the welfare disposal system would be extended to lambs with no market outlet - principally the light lamb. A payment of £10 a lamb would be made.

Lord Whitty stressed this was a one-off scheme. "It will not be repeated next year, so decisions have to be based on that in terms of breeding plans for next year," he said.

The extension to lambs comes into place from Monday. The cattle and pig movements regime will operate from September 17, as will sheep movements where blood tests are not required. Sheep movements where blood tests are required will depend on the availability of serological capacity and will therefore operate from early October.

Lord Whitty was due to hold discussions with the industry today, when outstanding details were to be discussed