A father and daughter are worried their pet alpacas and goats could be culled as the animals are set to be tested for the bluetongue virus.

Glen Randall, who lives on a farm in Ham, near Sandwich, and his daughter Jodi fear the worst after cows in the area contracted the disease last month and had to be euthanised.

A six-mile temporary control zone was first introduced in Kent in November after five cows caught the bluetongue virus, which is borne by midges.

Officials from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are set to visit Mr Randall’s farm at the end of January, leaving him concerned about what the results could be.

“It’s not anyone's fault, but it is a very difficult situation,” said Mr Randall.

“We have had these animals for over six years and we have grown very close to them, especially my daughter.

“These are my daughter's pets. She would be absolutely devastated if they were to be killed.”

Mr Randall has owned Hambrook Farm in Hay Lane for more than 20 years and says he has always kept animals on the site – including their two alpacas and four goats.

The bluetongue virus can infect animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer or camelids.

The total number of cases currently sits at 14 on seven different farms, only one of which is outside Kent.

The temporary control zone stretches from Canterbury to Thanet and down to Dover.

Ms Randall told KentOnline that she visits the farm twice a day to spend time with her pets and would be “heartbroken” if anything was to happen to them.

“I am incredibly close with my goats and alpacas,” she said.

“I love spending time with them. They are all incredibly cheeky and have such big personalities.

“The alpacas do sometimes spit and kick at you so I wouldn't say they are the most friendly pets. But I think they are cool!.”

Despite not living on the farm, the 30-year-old will sometimes spend “all day” in the company of her animals.

She has described having a “close bond” with her two alpacas who are named Steve and Allan.

The pet goats are called Nibbles, Matilda, Brian and Cinderella.

“The thought of something happening to them is very scary,” she added.

“It’s worrying because they all seem fine but the cows who were killed just across the road from us also had no symptoms.”

Mr Randall feels the situation could have been “handled better” by the government and wonders why it has “taken so long” for his animals to be tested.

He added: “I think the government is dealing with it poorly.

“They tested loads of animals across the road from us but have left us to be checked until a later date.

“The cows that were killed across the road from us were only 50 metres from where I was standing. I saw it happen.”

Mr Randall also has horses on the farm, but they are not able to contract the virus.

It does not pose a threat to humans or food.

Farmers have been reminded that animals imported from the areas affected by bluetongue must be accompanied by the relevant paperwork to clearly show they meet certain conditions designed to reduce disease risk, such as correct vaccination.

A spokesperson for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which is an executive agency of Defra, said: “We are not complacent against the risk bluetongue poses to our farmers.

“We have been carrying out testing since November 2023 – and have had to target cattle and larger flocks or herds as a priority in this process.

“We are aiming to complete all surveillance activity in Kent by the end of next month.”