FARMERS across Worcestershire and Herefordshire will have greater scope for animal movements following the Government's announcement of relaxed controls.

From tomorrow, farmers in foot-and-mouth-free counties and those deemed at risk will be able to move livestock to high-risk areas.

Farmers will still have to apply for licences to make the movements, and infected areas are still out of bounds.

Herefordshire is considered to be at risk of the disease, six months after its last outbreak.

Worcestershire was declared free from the disease two months ago.

The Government has also announced plans that pigs and cattle from foot-and-mouth-free counties would not require an inspection from a local veterinary inspector prior to movement, unless they are going to slaughter for export.

This will come into effect on Tuesday, December 4.

There are also plans to allow multiple pick-ups from farms in foot-and-mouth-free counties for movements to a single slaughterhouse, but nothing has yet been confirmed.

"I'm very pleased that we've made sufficient progress to be able to announce these relaxations," said Lord Whitty, Food and Farming Minister.

"Of course, there could still be disease out there and no one should drop their guard, but these are important steps on the return to normality."

The Government is currently discussing with the industry what animal movement regime should be in place from early next year.