Farmers are being urged to protect their livestock from Bluetongue which kills sheep and severely affects cattle and is spread by midges.

Nigel Gibbens, chief veterinary officer, is warning farmers to vaccinate because The Met Office is predicting a hot summer which is likely to boost the numbers of the biting insects and in May the Government halved the cost of the shot.

Charles Sercomb, chairman of the Melton branch of the National Farmers' Union, said: "We would like to see more people vaccinate. The take-up in this area is quite good compared with other parts of the country where it is somewhat lacking.

"If farmers don't vaccinate we run the risk of catching it but I hope it doesn't come to that. I think farmers who are not vaccinating are convinced we won't have any trouble because last year it wasn't a major outbreak. But it is rife on the continent and playing havoc."

The community is hoping this summer won't be a repeat of previous years which have been some of the worst on record.

In 2001 Melton became a ghost town with the Cattle Market closed because of movement restrictions and last year Bluetongue came near to the region.

The wet weather kept the midges at bay but forced up the price of feed to a cripplingly high cost.

Bluetongue can be fatal in sheep and is like a severe cold in cattle. It also reduces the amount of milk and reproduction in both animals.

It also affects deer, goats, camels, llamas, alpacas, guanaco and vicuña but not humans.

But exports of British meat are currently boosting trade and lamb has been reaching record prices, putting a spring in farmers' steps.

Ros Dean, a sheep farmer and Leicestershire chairman of the NFU, said: "There are some smiles on farmers' faces at the moment because we have had a good start to the season. But I think some people have a false sense of security. And we are not on a level playing field, farmers in France get compensation if their livestock get Bluetongue."

Farmers wishing to order the vaccine should contact their vet.