MAFF culling teams were poised on Tuesday to move on a further four Forest farms 'within 48 hours' after the uneasy truce called by chief vet Dave Parker expired on Monday.

The cull is to go ahead in spite of mounting opposition and it follows assessment visits on Monday to six farms, two of which were given the all-clear, said a MAFF spokesman.

A further eight farms were expected to be assessed as the Review went to press, but the spokesman said the fate of animals at Oaklands Park, near Newnham, remained undecided.

Also undecided but still on the agenda was a proposal to kill all sheep between Chepstow and Gloucester.

Campaigners were preparing to appear on mass at farm gates should there be any action to enforce the cull.

As the news of the new phase of culling broke they were desperately trying to find out which farms were on the list, but MAFF was unspecific on this point.

A protest spokesperson said farmers were still being 'intimidated' by officials demanding they should give up their sheep. Most of the farms had received 'threatening' letters, said the spokesperson.

She said they had been aware of officials turning up at farms to make what they called "risk assessments".

They appeared in groups and inspected animals but there were no veterinary tests for the disease, just visual checks. The presence of army personnel in combat fatigues made these visits very intimidating.

She said it had become very, very difficult to get any information at all from MAFF.

"We are hearing plenty of rumours, but so far nothing is checking out."

•Three deer killed in road traffic accidents in the Forest have been tested for any trace of foot and mouth virus and found to be negative. Two deer were killed in accidents last week and a third on Monday night. "They were all tested and found to be clear of the disease," said Val Long, for Forest Enterprise. Mrs Long said there were no plans to cull any deer.

•Mitcheldean smallholder Mike Price, 61, is "comfortable" in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital following a heart attack 45 minutes after a call by MAFF vets. His family say Mr Price was worried about the A-listing of his three sheep, two lambs and pair of pot-bellied pigs. MAFF has since downgraded the holding to a D-notice.