FARMERS were facing disaster last night as the foot-and-mouth epidemic spread into previously unaffected areas.

In County Durham, the disease has spread eastwards out of Weardale to take in Brancepeth, on the outskirts of Durham City, Middlestone Moor, near Spennymoor, and another case at Tow Law.

Rochelle Jackson, who runs Brawn's Den Farm, at Brancepeth, with husband Morris, said she had no idea how they got it.

She said: "We did everything we could. We did everything by the guidelines and have barely left the farm in the past four weeks.

"We have had nobody on the farm - not even the postman has been further than the entrance. We have followed everything and we still have it."

Mrs Jackson praised the vets for the way they have handled the situation, although she is upset that the 300 sheep and cattle on the farm will be destroyed today.

She said: "The vets have been tremendous, so good and sympathetic.

"The only thing we have said is that, when it's over, at least we can look to the future instead of getting up in the morning and watching our animals, worrying when they don't come for their feed."

Low House Farm, in Middlestone Moor, is the first foot-and-mouth case in the Spennymoor area and was confirmed late on Monday night. But Michael Jewitt, who owns the abattoir in the town as well as the farm, has denied that both of his businesses are contaminated.

He said: "The abattoir definitely hasn't got a case but the farm has.

"The animals have had no contact with the abattoir and all the staff are totally separate."

The business can continue trading but cannot kill animals for the next 21 days because it is within three kilometres of an infected area.

Like Mr and Mrs Jackson, he has no idea how his farm has contracted the disease.

He said: "It's a mystery at the moment. We are just trying to piece it all together."

Cattle from the farm have been destroyed and will be buried as recommended by the authorities.