Restrictions imposed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis have been lifted for a Chappel and Wakes Colne postwoman - but Trudi Cresswell is still not taking any chances.

Miss Cresswell lives at her parents' farm at Inworth Lane, Wakes Colne, which was put under observation by Maff after a lorry stopped in a lane to make a delivery before travelling to an infected farm at Wethersfield.

It meant she could not go out of the farm until she had showered and changed into clean overalls.

But although restrictions were lifted on Saturday, after three weeks Miss Cresswell is limiting her visits to the animals.

She has delivered mail to 260 homes for the last 20 years and has vowed to be vigilant despite the lifting of restrictions.

"The less I go there the better," she said. "I can look out of the window and see them. We have got to play safe. Until it's all clear in Essex we've got to be careful. It's just not worth it, nobody likes to lose their animals."

Her family has cattle and sheep on the farm and neighbours have pet goats to care for.

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