Also at risk is the Waterloo Cup, the controversial hare coursing event, which is due to take place near Southport next week. The hares are caught mainly in Norfolk and trucked up to Lancashire. The crisis also gave hope to many anti fox-hunters in London that the countryside rally in London next month might be called off. Animal welfare organisations called on the Countryside Alliance to cancel the march in light of the foot and mouth disease outbreak. The British Horse Association, which has 55,000 recreational rider members and approves more than 700 schools, advised riders everywhere to keep to the roads and off all bridleways and farmland.
Farmers are worried sick as it is.
London Zoo and other wildlife parks which have elephants, buffalo, yak, camels and llama, all vulnerable to foot and mouth, said precautionary measures would be taken, but were taking advice from the government. The Corporation of the City of London, which manages the 8,000-acre Epping forest on the outskirts of London, yesterday banned the public from entering the large deer sanctuary and insisted that all vehicles entering it were disinfected.