With the threat of the disease moving ever closer, the North East NFU is looking at ways of doing everything possible to keep the disease at bay.

North Yorkshire farmers are being asked to give their views and advice at a special NFU meeting at Millstones Restaurant, Harrogate, on Tuesday, March 20, starting at 7.30pm. Hosted jointly by the regional livestock and dairy boards, the NFU will join forces with the State Veterinary Service to cover a range of topics, including the details of current restrictions, parish designations and the pre-movement testing regime.

Other issues up for debate will include on-farm isolation of newly-acquired stock and the benefits this can bring for farmers and their cattle.

David Shaw, regional dairy board member and a York farmer, said: "TB is an issue that is now causing us real concern as we see its relentless march across the UK.

"There are a number of things we can do to minimise the risk and protect ourselves and this meeting is designed to outline what these are and to get on board as many local livestock and dairy farmers as possible.

Source: The Press