Movement restrictions have been lifted around a farm in Cornwall where it was thought a bull might have foot-and- mouth disease.

The farm, at St Cleer, near Liskeard, had been cordoned off as a precautionary measure after a bull showed possible signs of the disease.

Samples from the farm were sent for testing and were found to be negative.

But the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) continued its complete ban on livestock movements within 8km (5 miles) while more detailed investigations are carried out.

It looked very like foot-and-mouth, but the lesions weren't typical of the disease

Jan Kelly, Defra

On Saturday Defra said that final results showed no evidence of foot-and-mouth.

There have been a number of false alarms since the last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth on 20 September 2001.

Jan Kelly, Defra's veterinary manager for Cornwall, said the owner of a pedigree bull breeding unit contacted a vet after one animal became ill.

Vets were called to the same farm on Monday after the animal's condition worsened.

Confirmed cases

Mrs Kelly said: "On Monday afternoon the vet had a look at the animal's tongue, which was shredded.

"It looked very like foot-and-mouth, but the lesions weren't typical of the disease."

After its initial outbreak in February 2001, foot-and-mouth disease took just two weeks to spread many parts of the UK.

The final number of confirmed cases reached more than 2,000 and millions of animals were destroyed.