Animal movements across the Bradford district were at a standstill today after a third farm was struck by foot and mouth disease.

Anxious farmers were waiting on further instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food after being told that a second six-mile exclusion zone would be automatically imposed.

Dairy cattle at West Brook Farm in Rawdon, where a MAFF official was pictured scrubbing himself with disinfectant, were confirmed as the latest victims in the epidemic last night.

Confirmation of the disease means an automatic six-mile exclusion zone is placed around the site banning movement of animals from the farm, except under special licence.

With the exclusion zone already in place around the two previous outbreaks at farms in Queensbury, virtually no-one in the district will be allowed to move livestock until the virus is controlled - which Government experts are now saying could take until early May.

Britain's slaughter and burn policy was backed by the EU today and West Yorkshire's farmers now face an anxious wait to hear whether or not the policy of mass culling will spread to this area.

The news that his herd was infected left Rawdon farmer Richard Garth and wife Carol shattered and vets were soon on site to begin preparation work ultimately leading to the culling of around 70 more cattle.

Last night as news spread around the village, Mrs Garth said the family was still in shock at the outbreak. She said: "We are just devastated."

The farm, on Layton Road, backs on to Horsforth Golf Course and is on the same stretch of road as St Peter's Primary School and Trinity and All Saints College.

Valerie Dawson, who runs Hopewell Farm in West Carlton, Guiseley, with husband Bernard said they had an anxious wait today for a vet to come and check their cattle.

"We had a call letting us know we are within the exclusion zone and now we are just waiting to see if our cattle will have to be slaughtered," said Mrs Dawson.

"It's a desperate situation but there's nothing we can do about it but wait.

"We will be completely wiped out if we lose our cattle and if that's the case we're going to give up farming and retire."

The farm has about 20 Charolais cattle, nine cows, new calves and 18 sheep.

Horsforth councillor Brian Cleasby, who lives just 500 yards from the farm, said disposing of the carcasses could be a problem as the site was in the middle of a village.

He said: " The carcasses are going to have to be removed but we are in an unusual situation with the village being so close to it and I have heard that officials are looking at the possibility of sending them to a rendering plant.

"I am hoping as a councillor and as a resident this will not result in the burning of carcasses, with the wind in the wrong direction it would be unbearable and very distressing for the children at the primary school.

"The best thing we can do is do nothing, to not walk on the land or take our animals around there. It is unfair on the family, but all we can do for them is pray."

He said an abattoir, Penny's, was also near the farm and had recently been reopened having been closed when the village fell just inside the ten-kilometre exclusion zone imposed on the movement of animals around the contaminated Queensbury farm.

A spokesman for MAFF said no culling of cattle would be done until the stock had been valued and said investigations were under way to identify the possible source and spread of infection.

Animals are also banned from being transported through the area except by motorway or rail and the exclusion zone prevents fairs, markets, shows or gathering of animals.

The Rawdon outbreak follows two others in Bradford. The first was confirmed at Bobby Green Farm, Queensbury, on March 7, and the second on Myrtle Grove Farm, Clayton, a week ago.

John Gullett, a National Farmers' Union representative for the West Ridings Area, warned problems could get worse for those in the sector with the approaching date when cattle were traditionally released from their stint indoors during the winter.

He said: "As it stands, I won't be able to take my cows for a walk 200 yards down the road. Cows will be starting to calve but there is nowhere to move them and no new straw.

"It is very difficult to see any light at the end of this particular tunnel."

A MAFF spokesman said last night 30 new cases had been reported yesterday, bringing the total to 514.