内容摘要：He sued them for $400m (£326m) damages on claims of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.

He sued them for $400m (£326m) damages on claims of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.

"Obviously, I was really worried then. Because he is autistic and non-verbal, we didn't really know how we could help him."Mrs Fryer said the family had taken hygiene seriously when they visited the farm and had washed their hands thoroughly using facilities provided on site.

A year earlier the farm had been issued with a prohibition notice by the Health and Safety Executive because it was failing to prevent or control the risk of exposure to cryptosporidium. Those issues were dealt with and the farm was licensed to show animals to the public in 2024.Mrs Fryer said she was disappointed that the farm had been allowed to reopen to visitors."I just think it's awful," she said.

The owners of the farm, which has now stopped its open days, declined to comment when approached by the BBC but have previously said they had "made every precaution possible" to prevent an outbreak.Many farms across the UK have had to diversify their businesses over recent years to boost their profitability, with public open days, petting farms and play barns becoming an important source of income.

But inspection reports released to the BBC under the Freedom Information Act by the UK's national cryptosporidium reference unit show that a small number of farms are not meeting health and safety standards - and, in extreme cases, are ignoring warnings from inspectors.

On one farm in Wales, which was linked to a number of outbreaks, inspectors found sick animals kept on display and a lack of handwashing facilities, risk assessments and staff training.The Department of Health and Social Care, covering England, said the pay rise on the table was the second above inflation increase for NHS staff in the last 10 months.

"We've accepted the pay recommendations in full because we value every NHS professional's contribution to patient care," a spokesperson said."We can't undo a decade and a half of neglect in less than a year, but together with NHS staff this government is rebuilding their pay and rebuilding our health service."

Resident doctors in England are already being balloted on strike action over pay. Other health unions are organising votes on the pay awards.All this may cast a shadow over a government 10-year plan for the NHS in England due in the next few weeks.