The British Wool Marketing Board has warned collections of wool will be slower due to the repercussions of foot and mouth disease as the new season gets underway.

The Bradford-based Board is writing to all producers outlining a code of practice which has been agreed through close discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).

MAFF does not know the total number of sheep that have been culled but estimate the amount of wool sheared, which in normal circumstances would be approximately 46.5 million kilograms, could fall by as much as 15 per cent.

A ban is still in place on collecting wool from infected areas and even those free from the disease are likely to suffer from a slower work rate.

A spokesman for the Board said: "Wool will only be handled with farmers' agreement.

''All vehicles carrying wool must carry out authorised cleaning and disinfectant procedures.

"All staff handling the wool will be required to change clothing and footwear and follow disinfectant procedures before leaving work."

After shearing, the wool can be delivered by producers to a depot, hauliers' premises or a collection point, but not a farm.

The spokesman added: "It will then be graded and packed in new, dry containers and stored for a period of at least two months before delivery to a buyer.

"Scientific studies have shown that the foot and mouth virus is eliminated from wool after a period of storage."

Flocks of sheep across the country have been culled during the outbreak and tests are still being carried out on the animals in Bradford to see if the area is free from the disease.