EAST LANCASHIRE farmers have been hit with new restrictions following the recent cases of foot and mouth in Northumberland.

The move was announced as a farmer whose business was blitzed by the disease celebrated being given the go-ahead to re-stock his farm but warned: "If it returns I'll be finished."

DEFRA officials have imposed a 6,100 square mile red box area across the North East, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria.

All movements and re-stocking of lost herds in this box has been stopped and existing animal movement licences revoked -- new ones will not be issued for the next 21 days until the extnet of the outbreak is assessed.

DEFRA say the restrictions hit the north of Blackburn and then north across Lancashire but will not be able to confirm the exact area for a couple of days. Alan Barnes, of Cowden Farm in Great Harwood, had bred thoroughbred cattle and sheep for 30 years before more than 600 cattle and sheep were slaughtered when the disease was discovered on his farm on March 15.

His farm had bred thoroughbred cattle and sheep for 30 years on the 160-acre establishment.

Before the latest announcement he was told that the restrictions on his farm had been removed and the surrounding footpaths can be reopened but he has urged walkers to be careful.

And he has also urged people travelling around the country to ensure they don't bring the disease back into East Lancashire.

More than 50 farms in the area have been hit by the disease and large parts of the Ribble Valley countryside are still closed to walkers.

Mr Barnes, whose wife runs a fruit and vegetable shop in Clayton-le-Moors, said his farm would be unable to cope if the disease returned and added: "If people have been anywhere else, on other land, I would ask them to please take great care because foot and mouth is still about and it could easily be triggered off again.

"The footpaths have been reopened but there are still 'keep out' signs and disinfectant as it could still be brought in.

"It is essential that people use the disinfectant and keep their dogs on leads."

"We have now brought back 200 sheep which have been wintering elsewhere and are looking forward to restocking but it is not that straight forward as we can only buy from certain areas now - and North Yorkshire and Cumbria are out of the question."