A HAMPSHIRE couple who breached foot-and-mouth-regulations by moving their animals have been fined a total of £6,000.

Southampton GP Dr Muniswamiah Subramanyam, and his wife, Sylvia, drove 12 sheep just 77 yards, New Forest magistrates were told.

In the first case of its kind in Hampshire, the couple were prosecuted under legislation introduced to curb the spread of foot-and-mouth.

Andrew Slee, prosecuting on behalf of Hampshire County Council, said a national ban on the movement of animals was introduced in February.

Mr Slee said the defendants' sheep were moved from a field next to Hunts Farm in Rudd Lane, Upper Timsbury, on March 8.

Local residents saw the animals being driven up the road and alerted the trading standards department.

"A ram had gone lame and was not eating or drinking properly," said Mr Slee.

"The defendants felt the only way to catch the ram without distressing the ewes was to move all the sheep together."

James Buxton, in mitigation, said Mrs Subramanyam ran a modest sheep-rearing business that made a tiny profit.

He added: "A ram was severely lame and treatment was essential, but the defendants suspected the animal would be extremely difficult to catch.

"Eventually the ewes were loaded into the back of a trailer and the ram then followed."

Mr Buxton said the sheep were driven just 77 yards to the couple's home, also in Rudd Lane, where they were penned in.

He added: "At the time, neither defendant knew they were committing an offence."

There was no deliberate flouting of the regulations, he insisted, adding: "Mrs Subramanyam is horrified that what she regarded as a humanitarian act should have resulted in the inadvertent commissioning of an offence."

Subramanyam, 59, admitted moving animals without a licence. Her 64-year-old husband did not attend the hearing but pleaded guilty by letter.

The defendants were each fined £3,000 and were both told to pay £250 costs.