THE return of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey - within days of the Government declaring the county free of the disease - is a terrible blow for farmers throughout the country.

It has come at a particularly bad time, with thousands of animals due to be moved from upland to lowland areas over the next few weeks.

The Government insists that it has acted without delay in imposing a national ban on the movement of livestock and we trust that to be the case.

The ban will again hit farmers hard but it is a necessary hardship if the disease is to be contained.

It is surely too much of a coincidence that the farm concerned is just ten miles from the animal research site in Pirbright, which was at the centre of last month's outbreak.

It will be a major surprise if it is a new strain, but it is crucial that the latest source is swiftly identified.

In the meantime, our hearts go out to the members of the farming community who were just starting to get back on their feet after the August outbreak.

Although many must feel like giving up, we urge them to battle on and play their part in isolating the latest case by remaining vigilant at all times.

The best way for the rest of us to show support for our farmers is by pledging to "buy local" at every opportunity.

The farming industry needs us all to pull together.