INCREASED bio security measures in the Penrith Spur appear to be containing the foot-and-mouth outbreak, writes Farming Reporter Justin Hawkins.

Within the area itself, however, the situation continues to deteriorate with 11 new cases this week at Shap, Bampton, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen and on Crosby Ravensworth Common.

There are now 851 confirmed cases in Cumbria - 43.6 per cent of the national total.

More that 1.1 million of the county's livestock have now been slaughtered.

The death toll prompted a barrage of questions about using vaccines against the virus when NFU president Ben Gill addressed a meeting of more than 400 farmers and local people in Carlisle on Wednesday night.

He reiterated the NFU's support for the Government's slaughter policy.

In spite of vocal support for vaccination from the floor, Mr Gill told the Gazette he did not detect a groundswell in favour of vaccines among the farming community.

The pro-vaccination lobby could gather momentum with farmer and virologist Dr Ruth Watkins due to address farmers in Sedbergh as the Gazette went to press last night (Thursday).

l Farmers For Action is holding a protest march in London on Monday to put pressure on the Government for a full public inquiry.

The march will begin at Hyde Park at 1pm and travel to 10 Downing Street.

l Meanwhile, infected area status has been lifted from the area around Broughton-in-Furness as part of DEFRA's roll-back of restrictions in south Cumbria.

The move will improve conditions on 284 farms in the area, but restrictions remain in place on the 14 farms infected during the Broughton outbreak in April.