Yorkshire farmers are optimistic about their crops

The UK's first case of ring rot, which is described as the potato equivalent of foot and mouth, was confirmed on Thursday in a sample of potatoes produced from Dutch seed potatoes at a farm in Wales.

Yorkshire's representative on the regional horticultural board Grant Burton said the implication for the region's farmers would be "very serious" if the disease spread but they were "totally optimistic" that it had been restricted.

He said: "We just hope that optimism isn't misplaced. We don't want to be noted as a nation whose potatoes are infected with ring rot.

"There is a considerable export trade of seed potatoes and that's quite valuable to us as a country. We don't want that to be jeopardised and that's why it's so important we get it right."

Yorkshire's potato industry Produces 640,000 tonnes a year. 11% of all potatoes in GB. 400 registered growers.

There is no risk to human health from ring rot, but the financial implications for farmers could be crippling.

A Defra spokesman said action was being taken to prevent the disease spreading and to trace any related potato stocks.

He said: "This appears to be a single outbreak on a single farm.

"At this stage we have no evidence that this is more than an isolated case but we are carrying out further investigation to be sure. "Official notices have been served stopping all movements of potatoes from the farm."