The zone will be extended from Monday and means that vaccination against the disease can start.

It will also allow animals to be moved to and from most of Yorkshire and most of England south of the Humber.

Vaccination is only permitted within a protection zone. The latest move will extend the zone to cover large parts of the country including Scar-borough and Ryedale.

Additional vaccine is already available for use in the existing protection zone from today but livestock farmers in the areas coming into the zone will be able to obtain the vaccine from Monday.

However, they are encouraged to order vaccine so that they can protect their livestock at the earliest opportunity.

The move will come too late to enable more animals to appear at Malton Show on Sunday.

But it will improve the chances of more livestock being entered for Ryedale Show at Kirkbymoorside on Tuesday July 29.