A £12.5 million aid package announced by Defra Secretary Hilary Benn for farmers hit by the doubler whammies of foot and mouth and blue-tongue disease will not meet the financial losses caused to Northern farmers, says the Country Land and Business Association.

Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North, commented: ""The CLA has constantly highlighted that although Northern livestock producers have to date been spared sick animals, the economic repercussions of the movement restrictions and export ban have been savage and there still seems little chance of any respite.

"This package recognises the particular plight of the uplands farmer, but frankly it is too little for many, and as a 'one off' will restore neither confidence nor stability to an industry devastated by extraordinary events, through no fault of their own.

"We still need to address the problems caused by too many stock of now too little value, and look again at the export and movement situations".