SCHOOLS across the region became the latest casualties of the foot-and-mouth epidemic yesterday.

Whitfield C of E First School near Hexham, Stamfordham County First School and Belsay County First School, all Northumberland, were closed.

More than 70 pupils at the Oakfield site of Trinity School in Scotswood, Newcastle, were sent home as a precaution, due to their small school farm.

Dave Edmondson, head teacher of Trinity School, said: "There is no infection, but we've been advised by public health and environmental protection to close the site as a precaution.

"At the moment, we're in the process of organising homework for them, and if it goes on much longer we'll be looking at relocating teaching to another school."

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: "Three schools have closed due to a lack of teachers, because they live on farmland.

"About 200 pupils have been sent home. It's too early to say how long the schools will be closed, but we are reviewing the situation every day."

County councils in North Yorkshire and Durham yesterday said that there had been no school closures, but they were monitoring the situation