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The RHA claims the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease will "hit rural hauliers hard".

Roger Wrapson, secretary of the association's Livestock Carriers, has called on the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to offer help - both financial and practical - so livestock transporters can keep the supply chain operating effectively.

He adds: "Animal production doesn't stop  just because DEFRA says there has to be a movement standstill. At this time of year thousands of sheep have to be moved, perhaps through markets, to meet up with the rams.

"There is currently only a very limited transport capacity to meet the demand. This demand is now significantly increased by the restriction on movement. "

A movement ban was put in place across Britain when cattle on land in Egham, Surrey, were found to be infected last Wednesday (September 12). Tests showed the outbreak was the same strain of the disease that infected herds in August.

The Welsh and Scottish administrations have eased the movement restrictions to allow farmers to take livestock direct to slaughter.

Farmers in England want a similar easing of the movement ban outside the current restricted zones.

On Friday, (September 14) the ban on the export of animal products was lifted, subject to certification by DEFRA in each case.

Phil Flanders, RHA director in Scotland,  believes livestock hauliers north of the border are being badly affected.

He adds: "There are not enough drivers or vehicles to cope and our request to the Department for Transport in London for a temporary relaxation of drivers' hours has been rejected."