Petting farm "won't dispute" Sussex children's E.coli claims (From The Argus)

Petting farm "won't dispute" Sussex children's E.coli claims

6:20pm Wednesday 12th January 2011 in News By Ruth Lumley

The petting farm at the centre of an E.coli outbreak which left several children seriously ill will not be disputing liability in the legal case against it.

A total of 93 people, including four children from Crawley, became infected with the bug following visits to Godstone Farm, near Redhill, Surrey, in August 2009.

Two children from East Sussex were also tested after a child from Kent, who they mixed with socially, was found to have the bug.

None of the children were admitted to hospital.

At the time of the outbreak, Henry Smith, then leader of West Sussex County Council, said the public had the right to feel safe when visiting attractions designed to entertain youngsters.

Law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, which is representing 27 children affected by the outbreak, said it had received confirmation from Godstone Farm that it would not be disputing liability in the case.