A new-born lamb is checked by a farmer in the Glens of Antrim on the North coast today. The lamb, which is only minutes old, faces certain slaughter as it is in the third area affected by foot-and-mouth disease.

Thousands of animals are to be killed in the North Antrim area in a bid to contain Ulster's latest outbreak.

Private practice vets are also being drafted in to help the Department of Agriculture's efforts to stem the foot-and-mouth crisis in Northern Ireland.

With speculation growing that the latest outbreaks were caused by the illegal movement of sheep, Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers said she would be writing to farmers to urge them to provide information about market purchases.