Crucial "traces" are under way to ensure sheep and cattle did not enter Scotland between Saturday - when the restrictions on the initial foot-and-mouth outbreak site were lifted - and Wednesday, when the restrictions were resurrected after a second suspected outbreak.

The National Farmers Union of Scotland has called for Scotland to be treated as separate from England when animal-movement bans are implemented.

The options sought by NFU Scotland include allowing movements of animals from hill farms to other premises, introducing a welfare "disposal and compensation" scheme for farmers with lambs whose market outlets are closed, and a feed scheme to help farmers who cannot move animals, have no grazing and are running out of funds.

Jim McLaren, NFUS president said: "The impact of this outbreak is horrendous. We've had farmers phoning us who are in a desperate situation.

"There are masses of stock in the wrong place and that can't move. Farms are out of grazing and out of money, so the welfare and financial crisis is getting worse by the hour."

The union's call for help came as the Scottish Government confirmed it would ease the plight of island farmers by allowing them to send animals directly to individual farms.

Source: The Scotsman