A NEW case of foot-and-mouth was confirmed in the North-East last night as the total number of outbreaks nationwide rose to 81.

Tests revealed the infection had spread to a smallholding at Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Maff) announced.

That brings the number of total confirmed outbreaks in the North-East to 15 - six of which are in County Durham.

The unnamed smallholding at Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, is close to two other infected sites, Thompsons Abattoir and Marshall Green Farm.

The news came as Agriculture Minister Nick Brown revealed that plans to pay £156m in compensation to farmers have received European Commission backing - with payouts beginning to sheep farmers this month and to beef and dairy farmers by April.

Yesterday, a total of 80,000 animals had been earmarked for slaughter, of which half had been culled.

In Europe, the fight against foot-and-mouth was stepped up after veterinary experts banned all livestock markets in the 15 member states and imposed restrictions on animal movements across EU borders.

The battle to contain foot-and-mouth centred on Dartmoor in Devon last night as experts sought to establish how the virus spread there after a second suspected outbreak in the national park. However, chief veterinary officer Jim Scudamore said there were still no plans to slaughter wildlife on Dartmoor.

He added nearly all the outbreaks nationwide were conclusively linked to cases elsewhere.

A total of 201 abattoirs have now received special licences to slaughter healthy animals, and meat supplies are reaching the shops.

Last night, a row was brewing between the National Farmers' Union and racing authorities after the union's president, Ben Gill, urged racing bosses not to resume meetings for at least the next seven days.

However, racing will restart at Lingfield today after a review of Maff's risk assessment of the sport by the Jockey Club.

Organisers of Crufts dog show said the event had rescheduled to take place in Birmingham in May.

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www.maff.gov.u