FARMERS are being urged not to fear a return of foot and mouth disease after sheep were culled in Gisburn following routine blood testing.

Sheep from a field next to the A59 road, opposite Gisburn Auction Mart, had been routinely tested for the disease.

But a spokesperson said only two were found to be positive and were subsequently culled.

He added: "This is not to say the animals were showing any signs of having the live virus. They were culled as part of a continuing surveillance exercise to test all remaining stock in the area.

"We want to allay people's fears, as this does not mean the disease is going to come back."

The tests, carried out by DEFRA in the Settle and Clitheroe areas, known as the 'Settle Blue Box' showed the presence of antibodies in the sheep.

A DEFRA spokesperson said: "These antibodies show an animal has been exposed to the disease and has built up a resistance without becoming infectious, or has had the disease and has recovered from it. This is quite common in sheep.

"Any animal found to have antibodies is culled as a precaution, whether infectious or not."

Once the slaughter has taken place tissue samples are taken for further testing. If a live infection is found, the premises will be declared infected and further culls will take place.

The cull at Gisburn follows the slaughter of 183 sheep at a farm in Giggleswick earlier this week. But farmer Chris Mellin, of Hyles Moor Farm, said that his farm has not been classed as a positive case.

And on September 23, 200 cattle and 900 sheep were culled at nearby Holme Farm, Horton in Ribblesdale, on suspicion of having the disease. Blood tests were later found to be negative.

Nearly 40 farms in East Lancashire have been hit by the disease, with the last case confirmed 15 weeks ago at Bellman Farm, Worston, near Clitheroe.