Kent now has more cases of a killer virus wiping out sheep and cattle than anywhere else in Britain.

As many as 41 farms in the county have now reported animals infected with the Schmallenberg disease, government figures reveal.

Last month, a dozen farms in Kent had reported sheep infected with the virus.

This has now risen to 37 - with a further four farms detecting the virus in cattle - according to the latest statistics from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Nationally, the number of farms affected has increased from 70 to 200 since February.

Kent's total of 41 cases is followed by West Sussex, which has 37 cases, and East Sussex, which has 36 reports.

There is no known cure for the midge-borne virus - known as SBV - that causes abortions, stillbirths and birth defects in cattle and sheep. In adult cattle, it can lead to fever, diarrhoea and a decline in milk yields.

Hugh Skinner, who owns a sheep farm in Sissinghurst, has had to deal with cases Schmallenberg.

Mr Skinner (pictured above) said: "There's been no let up with the virus.

"The other problem is getting the lambs out when they're grossly deformed. I had to perform a caesarean last night.

"There have been 10 cases on my farm out of 600 lambs. There have also been suspect cases or milder cases of Schmallenberg. These range from smaller than normal lambs and slight deformities such as shortened jaw, to lambs that die early in gestation and are born in a mummified state.

"There will be an economic impact - it's cost me around £1,000 and as well as the aggravation, there is great sadness when a sheep carries a lamb for five months and then has either a dead lamb or deformed lamb that has to be put down."

Isobel Bretherton, from the south east branch of the National Farmers Union said: "The Institute for Animal Health, based in the UK, are working with Germany and Holland to find a vaccine but for this time of year it's a big worry for cattle and sheep farmers as they start lambing and calving."