A SHEEP farmer has spoken of his helplessness over a new animal disease that causes birth defects and miscarriages in livestock.

Overton farmer James Crosbie-Dawson said that he will not know whether his farm is affected by the Schmallenberg virus until 20 March when his 500 ewes are due to lamb.

He said: “It’s a concern but we don’t know what we are dealing with.

“In my view there is absolutely nothing we can do about it and we just have to keep our fingers crossed.”

See the full report in the paper.