THE DALES Recovery Appeal has passed the £500,000 mark in just eight weeks, it was announced yesterday, some of it thanks to matching funding from the Government's Countryside Agency.

The appeal, designed to help small businesses, voluntary organisations and individuals hard-hit by the foot and mouth crisis, was only launched on June 27, with a target of raising £1 million.

And there is even more good news: the Countryside Agency has extended its fund-matching deadline until September 30 - which means that the agency will give £1 for every £1 donated by private individuals.

"This could be a case of doubling your money," says appeal chairman John Sheard. "If there are any individuals who wish to contribute, it would be doubly beneficial for the Dales if they could make their donation before September 30."

However, he warned: "Although this response has been most generous, we are discovering every day more and more people who are in desperate need of help. Even if we hit our £1 million target, our resources will still be stretched pretty thin."

The appeal will soon be able to offer grants to people in the area of the Archdeaconry of Craven, which spreads from Sedbergh in Cumbria to Denholme, south of Keighley, and west into the Trough of Bowland.

Contributions so far include a £25,000 gift from the Garfield Weston Foundation, one of many major British charities who are studying applications from the appeal. More are expected later.

Grants from the fund will be specifically targeted towards small businesses which have lost trade, voluntary groups which have been forced to cancel fund-raising events, and individuals like small farmers whose stock has not been culled but have been unable to take them to auction because of movement restrictions.

The appeal welcomes any donations, large or small, to Peter Marshall, Hon. Sec, the Dales Recovery Appeal, 76 Main Street, Addingham, Ilkley, West Yorks LS29 0PD (phone 01943-831660/fax 01943-831570). Please make out cheques to The Craven Trust DALES Recovery Appeal.