LOCAL farmers are on red alert this week following news of a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at a pig farm in Monkwood near Ropley.
A five-mile exclusion zone is currently in force around Merryfield Farm, which is part of the West Tisted Estate, and notices are up warning people to keep out.
A full version of this story will be found in the Alton Herald of March 2, 2001.