FARMERS were today urged to prevent stray lambs and calves from roaming away from their farmland during the lambing season in a bid to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

The warning came as Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) officials revealed two East Lancashire farmers are still anxiously waiting to find out if their animals had fallen victim to the contagious virus. Fears are growing that lambs, who often stray out of their own fields, could pick up foot-and-mouth and bring it back to their own farms.

There have already been three confirmed cases of the disease in Lancashire - at Ollerton Farm, Withnell, Slinger's abattoir, Great Harwood, and a farm near Lancaster.

But government vets are still waiting on vital test results from two further sites in Withnell and Great Harwood, which means yet more animals could be facing slaughter.

Rob Paul, MAFF's divisional veterinary manager, said: "During the lambing season stray animals can be a problem but we are hoping that farmers will be vigilant and try to keep their livestock on their premises.

"If they don't they could face fines, and more worryingly, their animals are at risk of contracting the disease." Mr Paul said some farmers are concerned about where to lamb their sheep as normally they are returned to the farm buildings to give birth.

He said: "As movement of livestock is restricted we would urge farmers to build simple shelters in the fields where their animals are. The greatest risk of spreading the disease is through movement of animals, so unless government restrictions are eased then that is what they will have to do."

Mr Paul said he was hoping to know the results of the tests on the suspected cases of foot and mouth today.