LIVESTOCK farmers breathed a sigh of relief as the preliminary results of the suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease in Leicestershire came back negative.

DEFRA said the initial test results on a sow were negative for both foot-and-mouth and swine vesicular disease.

A spokesman for the NFU said that while a definitive answer was being awaited this week, foot-and-mouth disease could not definitely be ruled out and animal movement restrictions would remain in place as a precaution in a five-mile radius around the Congerstone abattoir, Leicestershire, where the suspect case originated.