FARMERS in Worcestershire have begun their desperate battle to stop foot and mouth spreading to their land as the latest reports reveal 40 cases have been confirmed across Britain.

The outbreak at Windybank Farm, Astwood Bank, near Inkberrow, is the first in the county and farmers fear it will spread.

Ministry of Agriculture inspectors were today believed to be at several other sites in the county after tracing an outbreak to Ross-on-Wye Market.

It is thought that a second farm close to the Astwood Bank site is under inspection.

Worcestershire NFU chairman Richard Jordan said his farm was within five miles of the infected site.

"We've got to take more precautions now that we're in the area of infection," said Mr Jordan, who farms sheep and poultry.

"You have to wear clothes which couldn't have come into contact with animals. You have to restrict your movements even more.

"My son was going to visit a friend this weekend but he's got to stay at home.

"People are being more careful so hopefully it won't spread."

Notices have been posted at all entrances to the infected premises and the police or local authority inspector will control the movement of people on and off the farm.

Farms nearby have set up disinfected straw paths at vital access points.

Barretts of Feckenham, a store that sells outdoor equipment and equestrian supplies said it hoped that the outbreak, just a couple of miles away, would not have any detrimental effects.

"Hopefully they won't close the road," said managing director Allan Wynne.

"Our equestrian supplies only account for 20 per cent of our sales, so it won't affect us too much.

"We normally get a few walkers in so hopefully they'll be shopping instead of walking.

"The infection just means that our customers who live on farms won't be able to come out.

"But we are having problems with the disinfectant - we've run out and we can't get our hands on any."

The news of Worcestershire's outbreak came as Agriculture Minister Nick Brown announced that there would be a resumption in the slaughter of British animals.

Strict conditions will have to be met and licences will have to be issued.

The Meat Hygiene Service must approve individual abattoirs before the slaughter can begin.

SUPERMARKETS across the county are facing desperate meat shortages as the foot-and-mouth crisis deepened this week.

The normally well-stocked meat shelves at Tesco in St Peter's were bare on Thursday night while the Sainsbury store at Blackpole Road reported sales were considerably up on meat, fish and poultry as shoppers began panic buying.

At Somerfield in Malvern, Warndon and Ledbury, a spokesman said there was enough British sources to supply meat into early next week.

But they added after that, the group would be using Irish suppliers for fresh beef and pork and continuing to import New Zealand lamb.

Yesterday Tesco described the crisis as "challenging".

"This is clearly a hugely challenging time as we do all we can to bring customers the day-to-day shopping they need during a crisis for the food industry," said a spokesman.

"Our staff are doing a magnificent job helping customers through the foot-and-mouth crisis as they did on fuel and BSE.

"By and large, most families have got all the shopping they need."

Common is closed in bid for safety

A SECTION of Hartlebury Common has been closed by Worcestershire County Council as a precautionary measure against foot-and-mouth disease.

The council's countryside service has been advised to close all commons except those in urban areas.

The upper terrace of the common has been closed but the lower terrace is still open.

"Hartlebury Common is situated in an urban fringe location and as such is neither clearly urban or rural," said Andy Maginnis, countryside sites manager.

"Despite the fact that we are keeping the lower terrace open at gpresent I must emphasise that the fewer people travelling around the countryside at present, the better."