THIS weekend marks a milestone for farmers as the industry hopes the country will be declared a foot-and-mouth free zone in the New Year.

On Sunday, it will be exactly three months since the last recorded case of the disease hit Cumbria.

And farmers throughout the region and the rest of the country will breath a sigh of relief as they try to rebuild their livelihoods.

But National Farmers Union president Ben Gill, from Easingwold, North Yorkshire, said it would be a mistake to say that Britain would automatically be declared free of foot-and-mouth this weekend.

He said: "To pass this three-month landmark will be a tremendous morale boost to farmers up and down the country."

But he said there is still a long way to go because the 90-day threshold is considered to be the earliest possible date after which the authorities could lift disease restrictions.

Durham, North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Cumbria still remain classified as "at risk", and they would have to be declared free before going any further.

Blood testing will also continue until the Government is satisfied that the country is clear of the disease.

Clearance will also be needed from Europe before Britain can declare itself foot-and-mouth free.

But Mr Gill said it looked like the battle against the disease was over.

He said: "It brings hope that we can start to move swiftly to regaining our disease-free status and break free of the costly strait-jacket of disease restrictions."