ANTHRAX fears have been raised in Harbridge near Ringwood after a second cow died from the deadly disease on a farm in Wiltshire.

Harbridge farmer Edmund Kane believes the outbreak of anthrax, caused by spores of the anthrax bacteria that have lain dormant for decades, are thought to have been disturbed by ditch-dredging work on Storridge Farm.

Movement restrictions have been put in place, covering a 50 mile radius.

Environment Agency contractors are working on a section of the chalk stream, a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) to enhance the river at Harbridge - reconnecting it to the floodplain and to align the channel.

Mr Kane is furious that the project has destroyed swathes of land close to his farmland at North End Farm and could disturb potential anthrax bacteria in the soil.

Anthrax is one of the deadliest and oldest diseases known to man. It can infect human beings as well as livestock and, although it is extremely rare in Britain, in its most severe form is nearly always fatal if not treated promptly with antibiotics.

Mr Kane said: "Spending £100,000 on lowering the banks and adding non native gravel to the river is complete madness. Flooding is becoming more of a issue to many, this combined with less grazing and the land being wetter for longer will in my view be the outcome of this mismanaged, ill-considered idea.

"The area here has been left in a deplorable condition. The Environment Agency has just ploughed ahead regardless of the consequences.

"The disturbance to the soil from the work and the flooding of the water meadows could bring any dormant anthrax bacteria to the surface and cause an outbreak."

And Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley parish councillor Patrick Webster claims the work is having serious repercussions on wildlife and the livelihoods on farmers.

He said: "Farmers want to grow a good crop of hay again in the water meadows but is not possible due to so many rules and regulations for designated sites. I cannot support any more help for nature conservation at the expense of our farmers. We have to produce more food in this country."

In a letter to DEFRA, Mr Webster said: "In September the area was nice peaceful scene showing the bank at North End Bend covered with flowering comfrey with feeding bumble bees. Yesterday the same area is a chaotic scene of deep rutted mud. No work was going on because I assume, too much damage had been done.

"The Avon Valley Water Meadows used to be very important for nesting wildfowl but no longer because the river levels are too high and so the meadows too damp.

"It has put enormous pressure on Edmund Kane, as he had to take his cattle off the meadows early, he cannot use the field where the pound is and he most certainly does not want the spoil from the bank,as there is a danger of anthrax being spread on the farm,as there was a tannery some years ago by the river at Downton,Wiltshire to the north."

A spokesman for Public Health England (PHE) said: “We are aware of a confirmed case of anthrax disease in a cow in the Westbury area of Wiltshire.

“The risk of infection in close human contacts of the animal is very low, and we are in touch with any potential contacts to offer public health advice.”