Millions of people in Britain are too young to recall the last serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on Britain's farms.

But it lasted the best part of two years and led to more than 400,000 animals being slaughtered.

Many farmers lost their livelihoods as a result.

That's why this latest outbreak is being viewed so seriously both by the Government and the farming community.

Farmers throughout Sussex and the rest of Britain are being put on full alert to stop the disease spreading like it did more than 30 years ago.

This outbreak couldn't have come at a worse time for farmers.

Let's hope it's third time lucky and this most virulent of all farmyard diseases can be stopped in its tracks.