A pig farm has been put under quarantine by Government officials after several animals were traced to a known foot and mouth infection site.

Roger Cousins's business, Hill Farm Pigs of Welland, is one of four sites in Worcestershire under investigation by MAFF. As yet, there are no confirmed cases.

In Herefordshire, there are two confirmed cases, at Llangarron and Llancloudy, and three other investigations in the surrounding area.

The outbreak nationally is beginning to impact heavily on everyday life in the two counties, with significant restrictions on movement in the countryside.

All rural public rights of way in Worcestershire were closed yesterday (Thursday) by order of the county council, following a similar move by Herefordshire on Wednesday.

County councillor Tom Wells said: "There are no confirmed infection sites in the county, but four sites are being investigated by MAFF, and we must shut the stable door now, not when the horse has bolted."

He said the council was also looking at stationing decontamination facilities where roads cross open land at Castlemorton.

Mr Cousins is not allowed to sell any of his pigs because he sent four sows to Cheale Meats in Essex, where the infection is known to have emerged.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food broke the news to Mr Cousins at the weekend and inspected his farm and, although no trace of the disease has been found, Mr Cousins has had to disinfect the entrances.

He will not be allowed to sell any pigs until Thursday, March 15, when his farm will again be inspected.

Mr Cousins said he was just keeping his fingers crossed.

"We've put down the disinfected straw mats and we've got signs up keeping people off the farm but there's very little we can do, it's in the lap of the gods now," he said.

Mr Cousins said he hoped he would not lose money on his stock because he would be able to take the time to fatten the porkers over the next three weeks and sell then as baconers. He said he blamed the swift movement of the disease on the closure of so many of the smaller abattoirs.

"Now we're just left with big plants and the pigs, sheep and cattle have to be trawled hundreds of miles to them, breathing out all their bugs," he said. "It would be far better for the livestock to be slaughtered locally because once they're dead they can't transmit the disease."

Eastnor deer park has been closed to the public amid fears that the 200-year-old herd could catch foot and mouth.

Christopher Lyons, estate manager, said they have had to cancel an annual orienteering event due to be attended by 500 children on Saturday, March 17.

"Obviously we're very concerned because if there were an outbreak of Foot and Mouth on the Eastnor Castle Estate I imagine that the herd of deer would not escape attention," he said.