OUTBREAKS CONFIRMED NEAR TRAINING CENTRES

Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease have been confirmed close to two of the country`s principal training centres on the day racing resumed in Britain.

Chris Boddington, a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture in Reading, said today: 'A location near Hungerford has been confirmed as a positive foot and mouth outbreak.'

This latest outbreak at Stype - the 87th nationwide - is situated within about 15 miles of Lambourn, where many leading Cheltenham Festival contenders are housed.

And earlier today a case of the virus was found at Hawes in North Yorkshire, which is a similar distance away from the Middleham bases of Ferdy Murphy, George Moore and Micky Hammond.

There is another location in the Lambourn area where there is a suspected outbreak.

Preliminary tests have been taken from animals at a farm near Baydon next to the M4 and Boddington added: 'The outbreak at Baydon has not been confirmed and the farm is still under investigation.'

Peter Walwyn, chairman of the Lambourn Trainers` Association, said: 'We know the farm is near Baydon but the case has not been confirmed.

'It was the AGM of the National Trainers Federation yesterday and Peter Webbon (the Jockey Club`s chief veterinary adviser) spoke to them and explained the whole situation.

'Provided they take the right precautions there is little or no risk but it is still a worry.

'None of the Lambourn stables are anywhere near the farm and they wouldn`t exercise near there anyway.

'The farm is away from the training grounds but we are still being vigilant.

'And the other case is the other side of Hungerford and about 15 miles away from Lambourn, well away from the training areas.

'We are continuing to monitor everything and taking all the precautions.'

John Maxse, the Jockey Club`s public relations officer, said: 'The Lambourn case started being investigated on Monday - there is no news yet and that is good news but we must wait and see.

'It is a worry but even so the precautions racing have in place can deal with horses moving from infected areas.'