Second farm closed over E.coli outbreak

A second farm has been closed following an outbreak of E.coli in Surrey which has left 14 children in hospital.

Health officials have closed Horton Park Children's Farm, in Epsom, over hygiene concerns.

The petting farm is the sister of Godstone Farm where the outbreak is believed to have originated, with 40 cases so far confirmed in people who visited the farm.

A Health Protection Agency (HPA) spokeswoman is quoted as saying: 'The hygiene arrangements [at Horton Park] were found to be unsatisfactory and the HPA advised the local authority that the farm should be closed immediately while these defects were rectified.'

She confirmed the farm had agreed to close voluntarily.

On Wednesday, the HPA apologised to the families of the victims and admitted mistakes were made in keeping the Godstone Farm open after learning of the outbreak.

The farm was closed during the weekend following the outbreak, but it has since emerged the first case of E.coli was reported back in August.

A full external investigation into the outbreak has now been announced.