A FURTHER case of foot-and-mouth disease hit the region yesterday.

Marshall Green Farm is the second business at Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, to be have been confirmed as having the disease. Farmer Joseph Johnson declined to comment about the situation yesterday.

Last week Thompsons Abattoir, also in Witton-le-Wear, was among the first to fall victim to the outbreak.

Chairman of the village parish council, Anne Hornsey, said: "I think everybody's heart goes out to them.''

Councillor Derek Jago, of Escomb, which is near Witton-le-Wear, called for walkers to stay off the Weardale Railway line.

Coun Jago has been contacted by MAFF officials who are concerned that the old track was being used as a footpath.

He said: "It goes behind Thompsons Abattoir and, now there has been a second outbreak, we want to stop people who are walking and running from using that line.''