A dedicated foot and mouth information site was built and launched in just three hours by a regional digital media team.

In response to the escalating crisis in the country, the This is The West Country website launched a dedicated foot and mouth site this week, aimed at supplying all the latest news on the spread of the virus to residents of one of the worst-affected areas in the country.

As the disease looked set to take hold across Devon, Somerset and Cornwall,Newsquest’s Southern Digital Media team in Southampton put together a’bolt-on’ website supplementing the main West Country site.

It makes use of the vast amount of news copy being produced on foot and mouth by the newspaper titles in the area.

The site takes all foot and mouth related stories from across the WestCountry and presents them in a readable format on the internet.

As well as letting residents and farmers keep track of the disease and itsconsequences, the site also publishes vital information on cancelled events,park and path closures, how to spot a creature with the virus, importantcontact details and more.

While supplying the West Country with a valuable source of information on anincreasingly threatening outbreak, the foot and mouth site will also help toraise the profile of Newsquest’s newly-launched This is the West Countrywebsite throughout the region.

The site was built and launched within three-hours, following reports thatthe 46,000 sheep and cattle roaming wild on Dartmoor were at immediate riskof contracting the disease – a “nightmare scenario” which could lead to themass-slaughter of the moor’s livestock.

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