Markets resume after virus crisis

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Animal health officials gave the go-ahead for markets to take place in Scotland, Wales and parts of England not considered to be at risk of foot-and-mouth disease or bluetongue.

But farmers inside the risk areas in the south east of England are still unable to take their animals to market.

The markets have reopened in parts of the country as the EU announced that British beef and lamb exports are set to resume on October 12 - as long as there are no more foot-and-mouth outbreaks beyond the 200km (124 mile) high-risk area in Surrey.

The decision was taken by EU veterinary experts from the 27 member states, but the whole of Great Britain remains a "high-risk" category area with strict conditions surrounding the consumption of meat exports from most of the country.

The foot-and-mouth disease risk area covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex, according to the website of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(Defra)

Alastair Johnston, livestock advisor for the National Farmers' Union, said: "Farmers are relieved they've got the restrictions lifted and they've got an open market."

But due to cash flow, grazing and breeding pressures at what is the busiest time of year for the livestock trade, it would be a buyer's market, he said.

"It is yet to be seen what the prices are doing," he said.

Foot-and-mouth has been identified at eight farms in Surrey since August 3, with the latest case confirmed near Wraysbury on Sunday. England's farming community is also reeling from the UK's first bluetongue outbreak, with 24 cases now confirmed.