Foot-and-mouth in sheep suspected

Initial blood tests on sheep suggest a new case of foot-and-mouth disease, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said last night.

The affected livestock are from a farm within the protection zone in Surrey. All animals on the farm are to be slaughtered, and further tests are to be carried out.

The suspected case comes just as the latest outbreak appeared to have been contained. Farmers outside the stricken area were permitted to start taking their animals for slaughter again over the weekend after Defra relaxed transport restrictions.

Until last night, no further instances of the disease had been reported since slaughtered cattle were found to be infected at two farms near Egham last week.

Scientists are still trying to identify which strain of the virus is behind the suspected new outbreak, although experts have indicated that it is likely to be the same as that found in animals that were culled last month at the village of Normandy, near Guildford.

MoD apologises

The Ministry of Defence has apologised for the absence of Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, at a service marking the Battle of Britain. Gerald Howarth, the Shadow Defence Minister, and the Rev Ian Paisley were among those at the event to honour the 1,441 pilots killed or injured in 1940.

Partner stabbed while he slept

A mother of two who went to bed with a knife and a pair of scissors and killed her abusive partner the next morning, was convicted of manslaughter. Samantha West, 35, was originally charged with murder. She was jailed for four years at Bristol Crown Court for killing Simon Bendle.

Call to increase autism funding

Funding for the treatment of autism is “totally inadequate”, researchers say. New Philanthropy Capital, which advises charitable donors, says the Government spends £3.70 per head each year on people with autism, compared with £1,000 per head on cancer patients.

Death fall from church tower

Rebecca Wigley, 57, who had been the treasurer of St Giles’ Church, in Whittington, Staffordshire, for 15 years, died after falling from its tower. Staffordshire police were not treating the death as suspicious. The Rev John Martin said: “Becky was much-loved.”

Smashed piano replaced by gift

A small music festival whose piano was dropped by removals men has been offered an £85,000 replacement. The piano makers Bosendorf took pity on the Two Moors Festival in Devon after seeing images of their concert grand smashing to the ground.

Father’s tip-off leads to life term

Stephen Browning, 31, was jailed for life at Bradford Crown Court for the murder of Susan Grundy, in Bridlington, in January. Browning attacked Mrs Grundy, 56, and stole her handbag close to her home. His father contacted police after recognising CCTV images of his son.

Churches fight cluster bombs

The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church say British forces must not use “inhumane” cluster bombs. They want David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to support an international ban on such weapons.

Motorist sounds off over repairs

A disgruntled motorist has set up a website, Hoottheroadworks.com, giving finishing dates of road repairs in every English region. He urges drivers to sound their horns at workers who have missed deadlines, to “teach” contractors an “annoying lesson”.

Party faithful to get Harman rallying call

Harriet Harman has won a power struggle to secure a prime speaking slot at the Labour conference next week amid efforts to shorten ministers’ platform speeches (Greg Hurst writes).

Ms Harman resisted attempts to axe the rallying speech that closes the conference, insisting that she fill the slot as party chairman and deputy leader. Some doubted her suitability for the tub-thumping oratory to send delegates home with fire in their bellies, upon which John Prescott prided himself during his 12 years as deputy leader. Rather than snubbing her by asking someone else to close the Bournemouth conference, organisers considered changing the format. “They could have done something a bit different, but she absolutely insisted on filling Prescott’s shoes,” a party source said.

Ms Harman’s victory means that she will be one of the few politicians able to give full-length speeches. Most ministers have strict instructions to speak for no more than seven minutes, often while opening or closing debates or during question-and-answer sessions.

Tory equal pay plans

Companies found guilty of paying women less than men for similar jobs will be forced to conduct “pay audits” of their workforce under plans unveiled by the Tories. David Cameron said that his party was prepared to go farther on the policy issue than the Government, which rejected the idea last year.

32-county party

Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister, said that Fianna Fail, the republican party founded by Eamon de Valera, intends to organise in Northern Ireland for the first time. His announcement came amid renewed talk of a merger between Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists and the Ulster Unionist Party.

Education pays

British education is a more lucrative export than the declining car industry, according to figures. Foreign students learning in Britain helped to boost the value of the education sector to £28 billion in 2003-04. That figure beats exports of food and drink (£9.4 billion), and the automotive industry (£20 billion).

Pigs free of disease

Pigs tested for foot-and-mouth in the Surrey surveillance zone have so far been found free of the disease. The pigs were from Stroude Farm, Virginia Water, where cattle were confirmed with the disease on Friday. Infected pigs breathe out large quantities of the virus, which can be carried on the wind.

Sex Pistols are back

The surviving members of the Sex Pistols, the pioneering punk band, are to reunite for a tour to mark the 30th anniversary of their sole studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks. The singer and guitarist Johnny Rotten will rejoin Steve Jones, guitarist, Paul Cook, drummer, and Glen Matlock, bassist.

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