FARMERS fear that hundreds more could be hit by foot-and-mouth as the number of confirmed cases last night rose to 26.

Eight new outbreaks were identified across Britain yesterday, with the first outbreak in Northern Ireland expected to add to the list when it is confirmed.

Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore admitted it was impossible to predict how many more cases could be expected, with as many as 15,000 animals already slaughtered or expected to be killed to try to contain the outbreak.

He agreed it was possible that the pigs at the centre of the source of the outbreak - Burnside Farm in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland - may have been fed on waste from schools, which included pork.

There was also no way of knowing whether the swill may have included cheap foreign meat

Brian Hodgson, NFU vice-chairman for North Riding and Durham, said many farmers were now bracing themselves for bad news. He said: "There are going to be hundreds, if not more farms involved, who will be under investigation. It is going to get worse - it is just unstoppable."

Former county NFU chairman Richard Betton said the next few days were crucial in preventing the outbreak from reaching the fells, where it would cause havoc.

He said: "If it gets on to the fells, the question is where is it going to stop? If we can get to the end of the week with no more cases we might be able to start being a little bit optimistic, but it is a long, long way to the end of the week."

The Army in Northern Ireland last night announced measures to introduce "modified" patrolling along the border, amid fears that soldiers could spread the disease should it be confirmed.

Despite the new outbreaks, Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said measures to contain the disease, including the ban on moving livestock, were working as all but one of the new cases were linked to existing outbreaks.

And he warned that farmers who flouted the ban would be dealt with severely.

He said he was still planning to introduce special measures allowing some uninfected animals to be transported to abattoirs to supply shops with meat.

Calls for vigilance - Page