Hereford cider giant HP Bulmer was last night (Wednesday) named as a possible source of the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city which has killed two people and left 10 others seriously ill.

The company was identified in a statement by health agencies yesterday evening.

"Initial results from a cooling tower in Plough Lane have come back as 'presumptive positive' which means that while early indications would suggest the presence of Legionella, this has still to be confirmed by further analysis," it said.

This does not necessarily link Bulmers to the current outbreaks, further tests will have to take place.

Bulmers say there is no direct evidence at this stage to link their site to the outbreak, but the company is co-operating fully.

The fruit processing plant has been closed down.The intake of apples has been stopped until the evaporation plant is fully cleaned and disinfected before restarting.

Bulmers' press officer George Thomas stressed no employees are among the victims. He added the large chimneys emitting steam over the city are not involved.

The cooling towers were last tested on November 4 and proved negative. A sample taken by health inspectors last Friday showed positive, said Mr Thomas.

Dr Mike Deakin, the county's director of public health, said the possible identification of a potential source did not change their approach.

Andrew Tector, Herefordshire Council's head of environmental health, said: "It's important to note that the process to identify the confirmed source of the outbreak continues and premises are still being visited across Hereford city centre and further afield in a bid to eliminate other potential sources."

A week after Legionnaires' disease was confirmed, Dr Deakin has stressed Hereford is safe to visit.

"It might even be that Hereford could be the safest place to shop in the whole country,'' he said.

Blitz

Following a blitz on buildings in Hereford at the end of last week, with health inspectors checking out heating and air conditioning systems there had been 'huge' activity ensuring they were safe.

It was now very unlikely there was any of the potentially deadly bacteria left in the city.

"I am saying it is safe to come. Do not fear coming to Hereford and going about your normal business," said Dr Deakin.

Hundreds of premises have been visited by staff from Herefordshire Council's environmental health department looking for the source of droplets contaminated with the bacteria which, when breathed in can trigger the disease.

The two deaths put down to Legionnaires' disease occurred on October 24, which means the bacteria was active in Hereford in the middle of last month. Two further cases were confirmed on November 5 and 6. With 10 cases preliminary diagnosed as Legionnaires' disease the authorities are expecting more because the incubation period is between two days to three weeks.

The two deaths put down to Legionnaires' disease occurred on October 24, which means the bacteria was active in Hereford in the middle of last month.

The Hereford Times understands one of the deceased is believed to be 76-year-old Charles Davies, of Putson, Hereford, although the Herefordshire coroner has not confirmed the official cause of death.

Mr Davies died in Wolverhampton Hospital after falling ill in Hereford. His funeral took place at St Martin's Church in the city on Monday.

Two further cases were confirmed on November 5 and 6, the cases sparking off a massive investigation and prevention exercise involving Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, Herefordshire Council and the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

But there is criticism about the gap between the first two cases and the next two, with claims that the HPA did not alert the others soon enough.

Hereford MP Paul Keetch said GPs in Herefordshire were not told until November 6.

But the three authorities say that the right decisions were taken at the time of the first two cases, there being nothing to show they were linked.

Even since then a careful plotting of the victims' movements in Hereford before becoming infected had not led to any particular building, or localised area.

Dr Deakin said that once the emergency was over a full investigation would take place into how it was handled and the results made public.

With 12 cases preliminary diagnosed as Legionnaires' disease the authorities are expecting more.

This is because the incubation period is two to 10 days, in some cases up to three weeks and they are putting the starting date as Friday, November 7 when inspections were completed.