The weekly pig auction at Colchester Cattle Market has been suspended until further notice following reports that animals in the county are infected with disease.

Auctioneer Tim Brassington said today's (Friday's) auction had been cancelled as part of a Government freeze and they would not resume until the all-clear was given.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said Fletcher's Farm in Fordham had a confirmed outbreak of swine fever and there were fears of a further outbreak at another farm in north Essex.

The disease is transmitted from pig to pig, by contact with infected pigs or slurry.

It is highly contagious among pigs but does not affect humans.

Mr Brassington said the cancellation of the auction, where up to 300 pigs are sold each week, would be costly but had to be done.

But Jim Warnes, who owns Geller Butchers in St John's Street, said customers had not been put off buying pork at his shop.

"We are reputable butchers and I think people know they will not be getting any less than the best," he said.

"I remember when the last serious outbreak happened, when my dad had about 100 pigs, and it is a worry because of everything else butchers have had to deal with in the past ten years."

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