NORMALITY has returned to Eastbrook Farm, but farmer Helen Browning says the aftermath of foot and mouth has left a huge hole in profits.

The organic farm in Bishopstone was closed for 12 days in March after a suspected outbreak.

The farm was put on alert when a piglet died. Officials from the Ministry for Agriculture, Farm and Fisheries were on the scene immediately and took the young piglet away for examination. Everyone at the organic farm, one of the most celebrated in the country, was on tenterhooks waiting for the results.

Thankfully, tests gave the all clear, but Helen believes if the scare had come two weeks later her livestock would have been killed out of precaution.

"We were very lucky," she said. "Things have settled down now but we are still taking precautions with movement on the farm, and some restrictions are still in place," she said.

Apart from the restrictions, Helen said the only real lasting reminder of foot and mouth is the hole left in her accounts.

"The ongoing costs for us have risen but that is just something we will have to put up with. It now costs more to move animals around, to the abattoir for example, but I can't complain because it's all completely necessary."

Now Helen is looking forward to Christmas and a less stressful New Year.

"It's two months now since the last outbreak so I think overall we are pretty safe. Even so we will continue to monitor movement on the farm."