Parents should be ‘educated not scared to death’ about E.coli risks at farms, says the owner of an animal centre.

Ponderosa’s Maureen Cook said as the number of cases of E.coli linked to a farm in Surrey rose to 64 on Sunday, visitor numbers to her farm at Heckmondwike fell.

She blames scare-mongering and mis-information about the outbreaks for keeping families away.

And she says calls from disease experts to ban youngsters from petting animals would deprive them of a wonderful, learning experience.

The Department of Health has said its advisory committee would be reviewing the current guidance and look at all the evidence, including the calls to ban under-fives from petting farm animals.

Mrs Cook said a ‘100 per cent hygiene’ rule would be the only way to cut risks of infection and parents had a big part to play in that.

“We have our rules and we stick to them,” she said.

“The animal areas are all cleaned and disinfected before we open and again at the end of the day, the tarmac paths are swept as well.

“We have gels and handwash facilities and when our staff are doing tours they make sure every child washes their hands before they move into an other area – parents visiting with them on their own should be doing exactly the same.”

She added: “The only way to keep ahead of any problems is to get rid of whatever it is that causes the trouble in the first place, so a ‘100 per cent hygiene’ rule is needed. We are even thinking about buying tiny scoops so the children can use them to feed the animals”

St Leonard’s Farm park at Esholt has devoted a page of its website to tell the facts about E.coli, how contamination can be avoided and what action its staff take to minimise the risks of exposure.

It also says thumbsuckers should not touch or feed the animals at all and babywipes are not a substitute for soap and water.

Four farms have been closed because of the E.coli outbreak. The nine children in hospital are now described as stable and improving.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@telegraphandargus.co.uk