A FLOOD of plans was announced over the weekend to help the Yorkshire Dales recover from the foot and mouth crisis. They range from prizes for visitors taking autumn breaks to an extra £4 million in funding to help rural businesses survive the coming winter.

These developments follow the publication at the end of last week of reports on two important Government initiatives, the Rural Task Force and recommendations by Lord Haskins, the Yorkshire businessman charged with rural generation in Cumbria.

Both reports placed great emphasis on the need to restore tourist businesses but emphasised the importance of farmers' work in conserving the countryside as an integral part of the tourist industry.

The reports received mixed receptions. One newspaper in Cumbria, Britain's worst hit county, described them as "a kick in the teeth" because of arguments over how much cash help will be available (see A week in the Country).

But both the NFU and the CLA gave them a cautious welcome - on the proviso that action must be taken quickly.

• Meanwhile, Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, announced that is would be making an extra £4 million available for rural recovery programmes, bringing the total now earmarked in the region to £6 million.

Taking into account the Government's direct financial contribution to business recovery, and £800,000 allocated from the European Regional Development Fund's Objective 2 programme, the resources available in Yorkshire and Humber will have reached £11.3 m by the end of March 2002.

However, Yorkshire Forward warned that it must agree with the Government plans on how the money can be spent before making awards.

• At the same time, the Yorkshire Dales Joint Promotions Initiative has launched a major drive to attract autumn and early winter visitors by offering substantial discounts on hundreds of attractions - and prizes of two £250 mountain bikes.

All people have to do is obtain a copy of a "Great Family Days Out" brochure, which lists all the discounts available and a chance to win one of the bikes.

The leaflet is available at tourist information centres throughout the area or from Richmond Tourist Information Centre on 01748 850252.