ANIMAL movements are to be restricted in South Bucks following a confirmed outbreak of the Bluetongue virus.

A 20 kilometre protection zone has been put in place around a farm in north-west London where officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) made the discovery yesterday.

This includes Buckinghamshire Defra said. Media reports suggest the farm is near Watford.

Livestock within the protection zone may not leave the area, and there will also be restrictions on animal movements within the protection zone in a bid to contain the disease.

Bluetongue is not contagious to humans, and there should be no footpath closures as a result of the fresh outbreak as the disease.

Unlike foot and mouth it cannot be passed on to dogs and horses.

There have been 75 confirmed cases of Bluetongue throughout the country since the first discovery was made at a farm in Suffolk last year.

For more information contact the Animal Health Office in Reading on 01189 596695.