A FARM at Abergavenny was confirmed as having foot-and-mouth disease yesterday, bringing the Welsh total to 117.

The outbreak is on Park Lodge Farm, Llwyndu, owned by Graham Sevenoaks.

Two other flocks at Waun, in Brecon, and Libanus also showed positive antibodies tests high enough for them to be classed as infected.

The news came as it was announced that thousands more sheep are to be culled on the Brecon Beacons before the results of blood tests.

Between 2,000 and 4,000 animals are expected to be killed in a bid to halt the spread of the disease across the Welsh mountain range, Wales's chief vet, Tony Edwards, confirmed.

The contiguous culls - of flocks possibly without the disease - is an attempt by rural affairs minister Carwyn Jones to halt the disease by creating 'firebreaks' to separate infected areas from non-infected.

Mr Jones said the disease was not endemic in the Beacons but was spreading slowly. He said it was vital the Assembly acted quickly to put 'firebreaks' in place to stop it spreading further.

Some 6,500 sheep have already been culled in the mountains. Mr Jones said he was encouraged because those flocks were near the initial cluster of cases in Libanus and tests further afield had proved negative, indicating the disease was not endemic.

Further blood tests were now to be carried out near the negative sites for further proof the disease has not spread.

Graziers on the Beacons are still awaiting the tests for antibodies on 4,000 sheep last week.

With contiguous culling it is hoped to slow the spread of the disease.

* Despite the Brecon Beacons problems, more than 70% of Welsh footpaths are now open. Details are available from the Countryside Council for Wales.

* The Brecon Jazz Festival began yesterday amid criticism that it should have been scrapped because of problems in the countryside and on the hills nearby. Organisers claim that cancelling the event would have jeopardised its future.