Residents in Layer de la Haye were shocked to find the foot-and-mouth disease had spread to their village.

As farmers and Government vets carried on with the business of destroying the animals and trying to contain the disease people spoke of their surprise and shock.

Pamela Farrow, of Church Road where the affected farm is, said she was worried about the impact it would have on the whole village.

"I don't have any animals so I have not been affected in that way but it is a concern because it seems to be spreading so quickly.

"It really brings it home when it happens in your own village," she said.

Beryl Wright, who works in the village shop, said the outbreak would hamper deliveries to the farms.

"Our delivery boys and girls have had to be very careful since the outbreak but it being so close will mean we will have to make sure they are completely away from the farms.

"I used to live up by that farm and it is really worrying that this has happened.

"My husband is a gardener up at Roe Farm and as soon as we heard we had to tell him not to go up there because they probably would not have let him out again," added Mrs Wright, of Malting Green Road.

By Lauren Spurgeon

Reporter's e-mail: lauren_spurgeon@thisisessex.co.uk

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