NORTHUMBERLAND has now joined the other counties in achieving FMD free status.

"For all counties in Britain to have achieved FMD free status by mid-January is a credit to vets and officials, to farmers and to the wider rural community," said DEFRA Minister Lord Whitty.

"However, we are not quite at the end of the road yet. Work is still going on to complete cleansing and disinfection on individual farms and to obtain international recognition that Britain can be declared disease free.

"The impact of this terrible outbreak will certainly be felt for some time yet.

"The change in status for Northumberland will ease some of the livestock movement restrictions which have been in place. I would ask everyone in the industry, and everyone who cares about the future of agriculture in this country, to continue to be on their guard."

NFU president Ben Gill described the Northumberland action as "excellent news that would help to draw a line under 11 months of hell".

He expects it will be several weeks before the country is officially recognised by the rest of the world as being clear of the disease. The Government has to apply to both the European Commission and the international animal health organisation, the OIE, for official clearance.

Northumberland County Council is conducting an inquiry into the spread of foot and mouth disease and its impact on rural economies. DEFRA has declined to attend but will answer written questions.

Updated: 09:31 Thursday, January 17, 2002