A QUESTION mark hangs over the elimination of foot and mouth from Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
MAFF has carried out "slaughter on suspicion" in both counties and is carrying out blood tests on culled animals to confirm whether they were infected.
Worcestershire was due to be officially declared free of the disease yesterday (Thursday), opening the way to lifting of restrictions. But that has been delayed until the results of the blood tests are in, which is not likely until next week.
Last weekend, 181 sheep were slaughtered on suspicion at Feckenham Farm, near Redditch, and 50 sheep at Welsh Newton, Herefordshire. The last confirmed cases of foot and mouth in Worcestershire was on April 12 and in Herefordshire on April 25.
Meanwhile, the 59th Wyche and Colwall Horticultural Society Show has become a casualty of the restrictions. The event was scheduled for August 11 at The Elms School in Colwall.
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