THE national outlook in the battle against foot and mouth took a turn for the better with only one new case - in Cumbria - reported overnight.

It was also reported that the Government may be considering a new series of grants to small, non-farming rural businesses. This follows a protest in the House of Commons by Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry, who attacked the Government for not extending the grant application deadline, which expired at the weekend.

And the Head Mistress of Skipton High School for Girls, Diana Chambers, has written to examination boards asking for understanding for pupils taking GCSE and A-level exams who have been suffering a "great deal of grief" because of the foot and mouth culls in the Craven area.