Last updated 08:59, Friday, 08 August 2008

Cumbria is one of just four English counties still outside the bluetongue protection zone.

Cut off: The latest map of the bluetongue protection zone, which was extended yesterday

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) yesterday extended the protection zone, stopping just short of Cumbria.

It is still unclear when Cumbrian farmers will be allowed to start vaccinating their animals but fears are growing that delays could disrupt the crucial autumn breeding sales for the second year running – following last year’s foot and mouth fiasco.

Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear are also still outside the protection zone. Vaccination is only permitted within the zone.

Yesterday, the zone was extended to include Lancashire and Cheshire after Merial released over two million extra doses of the vaccine.

It effectively cuts Cumbria off from the most of the country, seriously limiting farmers on where they can buy, sell and show livestock.

France currently has around 2,200 new positive bluetongue cases. Approximately 900 of these happened in the last week and another 1,000 in the week before.