Farm animals in West Sussex will soon be on the move again after a relaxation of foot-and-mouth controls.

Until this week animals could only be moved from farms for slaughter on strictly laid-down welfare grounds.

The changes mean that animals can now be moved from farm to farm.

West Sussex County Council's trading standards department has been put in charge of the new arrangements by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Trading standards manager Chris Tinley said: "It means that farmers will now be able to move their animals to new pastures or to other farms for breeding purposes.

"But there is still nothing going to market, which is something everybody would like to see."

The new controls mean that farmers wanting to move animals must first have a veterinary inspection which is paid for by Defra, formerly the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Applications forms and advice on the new scheme are available from the trading standards department. Several farmers have already asked for details since the changes came into force on Monday.

Farmers wanting application forms or advice should ring 01903 839700.