AGRICULTURE Minister Nick Brown was due to arrive in Craven today for what is expected to be a heated meeting with farmers, tourist business people, council officials and police over the foot and mouth outbreak in the Settle area.

Craven District Council has already called for swift cash aid to farmers and tourist businesses who - yet again - are facing a bank holiday weekend with the prospect of glorious weather but few visitors.

The visit is seen as an attempt by the Government to quell growing alarm amongst hundreds of small Dales farmers in the midst of a massive culling operation but the minister does at least have one good bit of news: there was no new outbreak since the Gargrave case confirmed yesterday, which brought the total to 18.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at Settle Town Hall at 12.30 pm.