Preliminary test results on a suspected foot-and-mouth case in Northern Ireland have proved negative, it was announced today.

Stormont Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers announced blood tests on a dairy herd in County Tyrone had found no sign of the disease.

Mrs Rodgers said: "I am delighted and very much relieved that this has turned out not to be foot-and-mouth disease."

The news will come as a massive relief to farmers who feared a ban on exports was set to be reintroduced.