Eight further cases of potato blight infections have been discovered in the UK according to the British Potato Council (BPC).
The unsettled weather conditions following the nationwide heatwave are believed to have triggered further cases. In the last week, the BPC has confirmed potato blight in growing crops in Filey and Malton, North Yorkshire, Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, Downham Market in Norfolk, Lincoln and Horncastle in Lincolnshire. It has also been confirmed in a potato dump near Ramsey, Cambridgeshire.
Dr Ruairidh Bain, a member of the BPC's blight advice team said: 'With recent showery weather following the extended dry period, apparently healthy crops that have been harbouring unseen infection on the stems, could quickly succumb to blight.' Dr Bain adds that growers should also take care not to irrigate crops following humid conditions that represent high risk conditions for blight to thrive.