The risk of foot and mouth disease arriving in the UK is the highest it has ever been, government scientists have said.

Officials say there is “great concern” the virus could arrive in the UK following the outbreak in a water buffalo herd in Germany.

The official risk level has been elevated to “medium” in the UK, the highest it has been since the system’s creation in 2006. Risk of incursion from abroad has never been above “low” in 19 years.

The UK had outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in 2001 and 2007. Both led to the culling of millions of animals at a cost of billions of pounds to the economy.

The 2001 outbreak started in Essex and led to many farmers going out of business because of loss of earnings from the widespread culls.