Farmers are wishing for a long, hard winter – their only hope of ridding the countryside of the bluetongue infection that struck last month.

Fred Landeg, deputy chief veterinary officer, said on Friday 25 premises had been identified with the disease, which sickens cattle and can kill sheep, in Suffolk and its surroundings. Bluetongue is endemic in hot regions such as Africa but has been slowly spreading to southern and northern Europe as the climate has warmed.