Defra has again assured people that there is no need to stop visiting the countryside, particularly in the south west, because of the new outbreak of foot and mouth in Surrey.

At the present time, the only impacts on visitor attractions and rights of way outside the infected premises are those which result from the closures of some footpaths and access land within the Protection Zone and restrictions on animal movements and events involving susceptible animals.

The Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone around Normandy and Elstead in Surrey have been lifted and with them all rights of way and land closures, apart from those on the infected premises.

Culling was completed yesterday on one of the farms involved in the new outbreak. Meanwhile a Temporary Control Zone in Norfolk has been lifted following negative laboratory results for Foot and Mouth Disease.

The current disease situation remains that one case of FMD has been confirmed on a farm in Surrey and, as previously announced, animals at a farm adjacent to the Infected Premises are also being slaughtered on suspicion of disease, said an official.

Initial sequencing tests of the virus have shown it to be type found in the August outbreak. A full epidemiological investigation into the source of the outbreak is ongoing.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has met with a group of five livestock farmers today at the NFU London office.

The farmers were keen to explain to the Prime Minister the problems that the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease had caused them. All of them were preparing for the most important period in the livestock year when the news of the fresh case of FMD was released.

Local NFU branch chairman Mike Giffin who is a dairy farmer and farm consultant said: "The first outbreak was hard enough to deal with but news of the second outbreak just as we thought we were getting back to normal was a disaster. This is the time of year when livestock farmers are trading their stock and their income for the year depends on it.

"The Prime Minister was sincerely interested in the issues we raised but the reality is that we have to get on top of the disease first. We did agree that the first priority was to contain and eradicate this outbreak and I am grateful for Mr Brown's continued commitment."

NFU President Peter Kendall was also at the meeting said: "This is a group of farmers who know what is happening at ground level and how the disease is threatening their businesses. For every day that the situation continues they are losing money because they cannot trade. However, we all know that the control and eradication of the FMD is the priority at the moment. I continue to urge all farmers to check their stock daily and remain vigilant with strict biosecurity controls."