FARMERS in the county breathed a sigh of relief this week with the news that blood testing on 172 sheep slaughtered at Ross-on-Wye proved negative.

Elwyn Maddy, Herefordshire chairman of the National Farmers' Union, said farmers were relieved to hear that the results had proved negative and looked forward to the easing of restrictions in the county. "It would have been devastating to farmers at this time of year had the results proved positive," he added.

Restrictions placed on the market site and inside an 8km ring have been lifted. The sheep were at the collection centre at Ross Market on Tuesday of last week for onward transport to an abattoir. A consignment of 38 lambs from the Monmouth area were slaughtered first on suspicion and a further 134 as a precautionary measure.

A DEFRA spokeswoman said that although the all-clear had been given farmers would still have to apply to the local authority's trading standards office for licences.

While Herefordshire remains an high-risk area, Worcestershire and south Gloucestershire have been declared disease free, bringing a long-awaited boost to tourism across the area. However, farmers still have to apply for movement licences.