Two types of RNA-5-containing beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) have been detected in the UK at different sites in Norfolk. On the basis of nucleotide (nt) sequence comparisons, one virus source (UK-MH) was clearly identified as P type BNYVV, a virus type that had previously only been detected in two widely separated parts of the world, France and Kazakhstan. The other virus source (UK-FF) has a complex genome composition. The analysed portions of its RNAs 2 and 4 are closely related to the corresponding portions in the RNAs of the East Asian A type isolate S, whereas those of its RNAs 1 and 3 resemble P type RNA 1 from Kazakhstan and European A type RNA 3, respectively. Interestingly, the P25 encoded on its RNA 3 has an unique TYHG tetrad in the highly variable amino acid positions 67-70. RNA 5 of the UK-FF BNYVV source shares properties with P type RNA 5, but also with East Asian types of RNA 5. The possible origin and epidemiology of BNYVV types is discussed.