The first case of the deadly Schmallenberg Virus has been discovered in Cornwall.

The virus can cause late abortion or birth defects in newborn cattle, sheep and goats. It has been discovered in sheep at an unknown location in the county.

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) confirmed that Cornwall is the first location in the West of England to be hit by Schmallenberg.

There is major concern in Cornwall that the presence of Schmallenberg could have a serious effect on the lambing season.

In the UK the virus, which is thought to be carried by midges, was first found to be present in East Anglia and was previously restricted to the South East of England.

A spokesman for AHVLA said there had been an increase in the number of Schmallenberg cases reported in France.

The spokesman said: "Areas at comparatively higher risk in the UK have been revised in line with the plume modeling data from the summer which models areas at risk of midge incursion from northern Europe.

"These areas include Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and therefore an increase in risk for South Wales. The timing of the most dense plumes would have been in late October for this South West region.

"This is therefore in line with the appearance of deformities in lambs being born now, assuming the highest risk period for lambs is if the mother is infected at approximately one month into gestation."

Schmallenberg has now been confirmed at 52 farms across the country.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control suggests that there is a low likelihood of any risk to public health.