CHESHIRE has been provisionally declared a foot and mouth-free zone for the first time since the disease hit the county in March.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has lifted the county's single remaining infected area status from an area near Warrington.

But it will be another six weeks before Cheshire can be officially declared free of foot and mouth, providing there are no outbreaks in the meantime.

Until then, the county will be classified as 'At Risk', which means farmers can continue to move livestock under licence.

Cheshire chairman of the National Farmers' Union, Alan Gardiner said: 'It is very good news and gives us hope the county will be declared foot-and-mouth free at the end of October.

'But I would appeal for everyone to remain as cautious as they were before and to observe all the precautionary measures.

'The last thing we want is to be back at square one. The outbreak at Warrington at the end of July caught us all unawares and we must do all we can to prevent a repeat.'

A DEFRA spokeswoman said: 'The regime has been drawn up on the basis of scientific and veterinary advice and in close consultation with the farming unions.

'It is aimed at stamping out foot and mouth disease before winter sets in. We cannot risk the disease flaring up.'