The English Winter Fair has been cancelled due to the continued spread of bluetongue in England.

The event was due to take place on November 16 and 17 but show organisers say they have made the 'difficult decision' to cancel the fair to protect exhibitor stock and farmers’ livelihoods following a meeting on Wednesday, October 23.

The bluetongue restriction zone is now just 10 miles away from the Staffordshire County border and 30 miles from the showground.

Chief executive of the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society, Richard Williams, said: “Given the fact the disease is continuing to spread as a result of the unseasonable mild weather, the risk of the restriction zone extending to encompass the showground is too great.”

The Society has taken advice from Defra. It confirmed that if the showground were to be incorporated into the restriction zone during the event, livestock would have to remain on site until testing and licensing procedures were completed.

Mr Williams added: “This would also be the situation if a case of bluetongue was suspected during the show.”

"Furthermore, if the showground were to be encompassed within the restriction zone prior to the show, the event would not go ahead, as Defra says the movement of livestock can only be made for essential purposes.

“Our main concern is that we would not in any way expose our exhibitors’ livestock to the risk of disease. We believe this would be the case if the event were to go ahead.”

Exhibitors are being given a full refund, which will be paid within the next 14 days.

Meanwhile, sponsors and tradestands can either receive a full refund or use the money to secure their place for next year, with the guarantee they will be given the same position at the same price.

All livestock keepers in England are now able to use any of the permitted bluetongue vaccines without applying for a specific licence.

Defra has announced a new general licence available for bluetongue as part of the government's response in curbing the spread of the virus.

However, it said that farmers must still meet the legally-binding conditions of the general licence for any vaccination activity.

The government recently expanded the bluetongue restricted zone in England to cover 19 counties and one city authority as nearly 150 farms have recorded a case of the disease.