by Michael DeFroand

Visitors are being urged to return to a popular animal attraction despite fears over the E.coli outbreak at a Surrey farm that has seen scores of people need medical treatment.

The Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch, home to many farm animals and the Canterbury Oast Trust charity, wants people to know that it has stepped up health safety measures and precautions, especially as it has experienced a slight dip in visitor numbers.

Nikki Sara , the centre’s events manager, said: “We are open as normal; we don’t want people to think we are closed.

“We are giving out E.coli leaflets, hand-washing signs are everywhere and there is anti-bacterial hand wash all around the site. We are running as a hygienic establishment as best we can.”

She added: “Our animals don’t mix with people in the eating areas.
“We are doing our best to make sure that everything is as clean as it can be.”
But she said measures also need to be taken by visitors to the attraction to combat the potentially deadly disease.

Mrs Sara explained: “We are only as good as the mums and dads who bring their children.”
The E.coli outbreak at Surrey’s Godstone Farm last month left several children in hospital, including two-year-old twins Aaron and Todd whose grandfather Brian Mock , from Ashford, has spoken publicly about their battle with the infection in a London hospital.

For the Rare Breeds Centre, such an outbreak is problematic – not only for the possible physical effects, but because of the fear it creates among some visitors.

In August 2007, the attraction urged public support in the face of the nationwide foot and mouth outbreak, again emanating from Surrey.
The previous outbreak, in 2001, saw the centre close and local people rallying to keep it going by raising £70,000.