All public footpaths within a threekilometre (two-mile) protection zone around sites of the foot-and-mouth outbreak were cordoned off yesterday amid growing concern about the possible spread of the disease.

Ministers ordered the closures under mounting pressure from farmers and politicians after cattle at a second farm were found to be carrying the virus.

The second site was found to be infected on Monday when animal health workers sent into the protection zone by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) noticed symptoms of the disease among the herd of 102 cattle.

Tests have since confirmed that the herd, which was kept on land within a few hundred metres of the original outbreak in Normandy, Surrey, had foot-and-mouth.

The first farmland found to be infected is 5km (3 miles) from the Institute of Animal Research and the private research company Merial.

Farmers are anxious at the potential for the infection to be spread by people, particularly those walking dogs, using footpaths close to farms.

The Times has learnt, however, that in other parts of the country farmers desperate to retrieve their livestock from fields have been ignoring the national ban on animal movements. At least four people have been caught moving livestock during the outbreak and one farmer said that he suspected that it had been breached at least 50 times near his farm.

David Kent, a dairy farmer near Shrewsbury, said that he knew of at least four farmers in Shropshire who had deliberately flouted the movement order. “I know people doing it. I know personally of about four,” he said. “I would say there have been 50 [in Shropshire].”

He said that the animals had been transported at night by farmers who are afraid their cows will stop producing milk after calving. They were, he said, acting out of fear because they were desperate to avoid a repeat of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 when uninfected cows were stranded in fields away from milking yards. Mr Kent said that he had tried to warn Defra but had been fobbed off with the claim that officials were too busy to deal with his allegations. He added: “How can they be too busy? They have had six years to prepare. It is incredible. They have got their heads in the sand but these animals could be spreading foot-and mouth. The Government has got to take notice.”

In other parts of the country there have been four instances where illicit animal movements have been discovered by the authorities.

In Pembrokeshire, West Wales, a farmer was found by animal health inspectors to have broken the ban and they were considering taking action. Three more illicit movements were detected closer to the outbreak, two being in Surrey and one on the M40.

The National Farmers’ Union said: “We cannot condone breaches of the movement ban.”

Peter Ainsworth, the Shadow Environment Secretary, last night welcomed the Government’s move to close footpaths in the foot-and-mouth protection zone as “common sense having finally prevailed”, but he added: “It is surprising that it has taken them so long.” He continued: “The illegal moves [of some farmers] are grossly irresponsible and put the entire farming community and all the biosecurity measures at risk.”

Ministers had been anxious about closing the footpaths for fear that it would give the impression that the countryside was closed to business and would cause damage to tourism.

Debby Reynolds, the Chief Veterinary Officer, supported the decision to ensure that the countryside remained open to visitors. She said that parks and wildlife centres outside the protection zones that had closed because of the outbreak were not acting on advice from Defra.

Beverley Hughes, Minister for the North West, called yesterday for the public to continue visiting the countryside. During a trip to Abbott Lodge Jersey Ice-Cream Farm, run by Claire and Steven Bland, near Penrith in Cumbria, which was badly hit during the 2001 crisis, Ms Hughes said: “Despite what is going on in Surrey, the countryside is open. Lots of businesses depend on visitors, and so it is important, I think, to keep coming.”

She added: “We are absolutely determined to do everything that is necessary to contain and eradicate this outbreak.”

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