The National Trust has defended its decision to stop children from touching eggs or feeding goats at its Wimpole Hall Farm site, which is situated near Cambridge.

Following a recent safety review by the Health Protection Agency, the farm – which attracts around 120,000 visitors a year – has banned children from handling freshly-laid birds’ eggs and won’t allow grass pellets to be fed to its goats due to cross-contamination fears, although, so far, no visitors have picked up any infection.

A spokesperson for the National Trust’s farming sector said: “The Health Protection Agency advised us that it was not good practice for children to handle eggs or feed pellets because of a low risk to health. Therefore, as a sensible measure, we have suspended this activity.” Details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk