GOVERNMENT officials have relaxed 'Fortress North Yorkshire' foot and mouth disease regulations to allow pigs to be moved to Malton Bacon Factory.

Exceptional movements of pigs from within the Thirsk restricted infected area were allowed from Monday, 20 August.

Tight restrictions on the movement of stock within fortress North Yorkshire were being relaxed to allow the direct transportation of pigs to the factory for slaughter.

Pigs within three to ten kilometres of an infected area may be moved even if 30 days have not elapsed since cleansing and disinfection of the site.

Updated: 09:24 Thursday, August 23, 2001