BRITAIN said yesterday it had relaxed some restrictions on the movement of livestock brought in after a recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

The government's Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said farmers would be allowed to move calving cows under certain strict conditions to "help resolve animal welfare issues". Tighter restrictions will remain in place in Surrey in southern England where the highly infectious virus was found on two farms earlier this month sparking alert.

It led to the destruction of more than 570 animals and prompted the EU and other countries to ban British meat and dairy exports. Farmers say the trade bans cost them �1.8m ( 3m) a day.

The new government guidelines, which allow cows to be moved up to 50km, are the latest step in the gradual easing of tight restrictions.

Funeral of director Ingmar Bergman

A CLOSE circle of family and friends bade farewell to Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman at a funeral on Faro Island in the Baltic sea, the TT news agency reported.

The film and theatre director and script writer died peacefully in his sleep on 30 July aged 89 at his home on Faro.

Bergman influenced a generation of movie-makers with his often stark works about mortality and sexual torment. He was famed for films such as Wild Strawberries, Scenes From a Marriage and Fanny and Alexander.

One dies in fire at resort hotel

ONE person died, four were injured and six others are missing after a fire at a Cornwall hotel caused part of the building to collapse. Some residents were forced to jump to safety as the blaze swept through the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay.

Fire crews had to withdraw when parts of the structure gave way and investigators said some of the missing may be inside.

More than 80 people managed to get out of the building. Emergency services said the four casualties are in hospital.

They said that when the fire broke out the hotel was close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building.

Snow to leave White House early

WHITEHouse spokesman Tony Snow has announced that he is resigning from the job early for financial reasons.

Snow did not give the date he would leave but said he had taken a pay cut since he joined President George Bush's team from Fox News TV in April 2006. He has also been undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer.