Farmers across Essex are anxiously waiting the results of tests into a suspected outbreak of swine fever at a farm in Ardleigh.

Agriculture and Food Ministry (Maff) vets have taken samples from Wick Farm, in Wick Lane, after James Blyth found nine dead pigs there last week.

Restrictions have been imposed on movement of the remaining pigs.

The results will be due in a week. If they are positive all the pigs will have to be slaughtered.

Mr Blyth looks after 750 pigs at the farm, which is just outside a foot-and-mouth restriction area.

He said 250 sheep and 40 cattle on the farm were not affected by the restrictions.

The news of the suspected outbreak is yet another blow to the farming community, which is desperate to get back on its feet after the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.

Essex farmers are already reeling from the setback of the 11th case of the disease in the county, at Canewdon in south Essex.

Last August movement restrictions were imposed on pig farms in East Anglia after the first outbreak of swine fever in the UK since 1986. Affected farms included one in Fordham.

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