CHATHAM and Aylesford MP Jonathan Shaw is working with farmers to quell fears following Britain’s first case of Bluetongue disease.

Mr Shaw, a junior minister in the Department for Food and Rural Affairs and minister for the South East, met with department head Hilary Benn to forward a plan of action.

He also met farmers on Sunday, following the discovery of an infected cow at a rare breeds centre near Ipswich.

Bluetongue, which is spread through livestock by midges, has never been seen in Britain before. It is more usually found in southern Europe.