THE disastrous effects of foot and mouth on Dales business has been revealed in a survey carried out by Craven District Council.

Of 400 businesses questioned, more than half were losing more than £2,000 per month and a tenth were losing £10,000. Some 40% had been forced to lay off staff.

Some of the businesses involved have received one-off grants of £2,000 from Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, which, although welcome, pale into insignificance compared with compensation of up to £1 million paid to some farmers.

Only three new cases of foot and mouth were confirmed in the UK overnight but they were all in North Yorkshire - two near Thirsk and one at Whitby.