HOPES that the foot and mouth plague may have been finally brought under control were cruelly dashed over the Bank Holiday weekend with 16 new cases on Sunday and Monday.  

The Cumbrian outbreak around Penrith, which had shown signs of coming to an end, flared up again with six new confirmed cases. But it was a completely new hot spot near Hexham in Northumberland which was causing the most anxiety.  

The disease was first spotted in Northumberland six months ago but had been clear for three months. However, there were ten new cases around Hexham on Sunday and Monday, described as a "major setback."  

A "blue box" of hyper strict bio-security controls was placed round the area. The national total of confirmed cases stood this morning at 1987, creeping ever closer to the much dreaded 2,000 figure.