TESTS for Swamp Fever carried out on two donkeys at Highampton have come back negative, Defra confirmed this week.

The animals were tested because they were in a neighbouring field to the horse found to be infected with the disease. The infected animal was from Hole Station Campsite — not Hole Farm as printed in last week's edition.

A spokesperson from Defra said the donkeys were tested as a precautionary measure: 'The chance of spread was extremely low as the biting flies that spread the disease only travel a maximum of 200 metres. The donkeys were the only animals within very close proximity to the horse that was showing symptoms and subsequently found to have the disease, so they were tested as a precaution.'

Defra warned horse owners not to panic last week because the biting horse fly that caused the infection at the campsite would have had to be interrupted and travel very quickly to feed on (and infect) another horse or donkey. The agency said no-one else had come forward with animals showing signs of Swamp Fever.

The infected horse at Hole Station Campsite was destroyed and the two other horses on the site tested negative for the disease. They will be tested again in 90 days with movement restrictions remaining in place until then.