Disease leak at Pirbright

Breaking news from the BBC:

In a written statement, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said investigators were sent to the Merial laboratory at Pirbright.

Mr Benn added that inspectors were assured that the virus was not released into the environment.

The virus is understood to have escaped through a leaking valve last week.

Merial shares the Pirbright site with the government’s Institute for Animal Health.

Both facilities formed the focus for investigations into the previous foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Surrey in August.

More news as we get it.