Three cows were taken for tests after a suspected foot and mouth outbreak at a farm on the Romney Marsh on Tuesday.
Honey Child Manor Farm in St Mary in the Marsh, was shut off by a three kilometre exclusion zone following fresh fears of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
The working arable farm is close to the Sussex border and boasts a dairy herd of 250 cows, along with a £50 a night B&B.
The three calves affected are reported to have blisters on their tongues - a key symptom of foot and mouth disease.
A vet has taken samples for analysis from the farm and results are expected by Wednesday morning.
Honey Child Manor Farm owners Val and Stephen Furnival live on a luxury Georgian farmhouse at the site. The village is famed for containing the grave of much-loved children's author E Nesbitt - who wrote the Railway Children.
Val said her husband was dealing with the crisis, adding: "I am not at the farm at the moment and my husband Stephen is dealing with everything. It is very worrying and we just hope the herd is safe."
Farmer Timothy Cole, of nearby Beechcroft Farm, said he had been ordered not to move any of his 100 sheep, adding: "Trading Standards called me and not to move my sheep as I am smack in the middle of the inclusion zone."
Another farmer, who did not want to be named, said: "It's a nightmare. Everyone is just waiting to find out how many animals are going to have to be slaughtered and how many farms might be affected if it is confirmed as foot and mouth."
Honey Child Manor Farm is advertised as "an ideal location for ramblers, cyclists and golfers with six courses within easy reach”.
It is also just half an hour from the cross-Channel ports of Dover and Folkestone.
The farm is also only 18 miles from Sir Paul McCartney's 160 acre £8m estate in Peasmarsh in East Sussex.
DEFRA spokesman Thomas Briggs said: “A temporary control zone has been put in place although we cannot confirm where it is at the moment.
“We are currently warning all farmers to be extra vigilant around the control zone although we won’t be able to say anything more until tests have been carried out.”
Debby Reynolds, chief veterinary officer, said: “The containment and eradication of foot and mouth disease remains our priority.
"This is why we have moved swiftly to put in place a temporary control zone while we investigate this development in Kent. At this stage disease has not been confirmed, laboratory results will follow.
“We are in a crucial week for vigilance and planning next steps.
Today’s developments are part of our ongoing surveillance and testing and I would take this opportunity to reiterate the need for the highest standards of biosecurity on farms, and for people to remain vigilant for disease and report any suspicions quickly.”
POSTED: 14/08/2007 14:52:57
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