The UK’s agriculture minister, Mr Nick Brown, will today meet farmers hit by the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak in the Yorkshire Dales.
Mr Brown is to talk with the local branch of the National Farmers' Union, police, tourist bosses and council officials in Settle, North Yorkshire, where the cluster of cases has now reached 18.
One new case was confirmed in the Settle area yesterday, together with another seven nationwide.
A Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food spokesman said the situation in the Yorkshire Dales was very worrying "but we are making every effort to isolate and eradicate the disease".
Almost 1,000 farms in the area have been restricted, and livestock movements have been cancelled since the emergence of the new hot spot.
Shadow agriculture minister Mr Tim Yeo called for a top army officer to be appointed to coordinate action to control the outbreak there.
PA