Disease that devastated UK farming

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The outbreak led to the slaughter of between 6.5 and 10 million animals, ruined many farmers and rural businesses and is estimated to have cost the country up to £8.5 billion.

The first case of the disease was confirmed at Cheale Meats abattoir in Little Warley, Essex, on February 20, 2001, and at the epidemic's peak more than 2,000 farms were infected. It was not until January 15, 2002 that the country was declared free of foot-and-mouth in an announcement described as removing a "long dark shadow from the countryside".

A routine veterinary inspection at the abattoir had discovered the problem after "highly suspicious" signs of foot-and-mouth disease were found in 27 pigs.

The day after the first case was confirmed the Government banned all exports of live animals, meat and dairy products as did the European Commission.

As the outbreak worsened it was not just farming communities that were affected by the growing crisis. City as well as rural dwellers were advised to keep away from farmland to prevent spread of the disease and events were cancelled across the country, including the world famous Isle of Man TT motorbike race.

By the end of March, the disease was at its height with up to 50 new cases a day and a few weeks later Tony Blair took the decision to delay the General Election and local elections.

Hundreds of thousands of animals were being culled across the country as the Government struggled to contain the outbreak but the decision to vaccinate against the virus was not taken. The carcasses were burnt in enormous pyres that caused distress to farming communities.

Six months into the epidemic 3,750,222 animals had been culled and tourism chiefs put the figure lost by local trade at £250 million.

In early September the number of confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth in the UK had reached 2,000. But by the end of the month Whygill Head Farm, animals at Whygill Head Farm, near Little Asby, Appleby, Cumbria, had become the last recorded case of the current outbreak.