THERE will be no more money from the Government for rural businesses suffering the effects of foot and mouth, says Yorkshire Forward.

Yet Government money will help just 300 businesses out of the estimated 60,000 in Yorkshire and Humberside (3,000 at least, are in Ryedale).

John Devos, foot and mouth disease recovery manager with Yorkshire Forward, said: "There will be no more grant allocations from Government. Their view, I think, is that they have allocated enough.

"The trouble is, I keep getting calls from people saying their businesses are going to go bankrupt and I can't help them. Usually people have a bit of money to tide them over, but there's no money now.

"The sad thing is there are so many people needing help, but I can't help them all."

Yorkshire Forward was, he said, unique in the country in that it made individual grants of £2,000 available from its funds at the beginning of the foot and mouth crisis.

Now the agency has invited businesses in the region to register their interest in applying for a share in the last recovery fund which stands at £4m.

At a maximum of £15,000 for each business, Mr Devos estimates he will be able to help 300 businesses. This compares with 75 businesses which benefited in an earlier round of grants funding.

According to Business Link, an agency to help businesses, there are 30,000 companies listed for the region covered by Yorkshire Forward.

"But," says Business Link specialist advisor manager John Guy, "there are probably at least twice as many out there."

North Yorkshire received 63 grants in the first round of £15,000 grants. Of these, 38 went to businesses associated with tourism such as attractions, guest houses and hotels. Nine went to retail firms and 16 to manufacturers. Ryedale received approximately one-third of those awards.

Bill Breakell, of the North York Moors National Park, says rebuilding the tourist economy will be extremely difficult over the short-term. He said it was important to accept the challenge of change.

He was also worried the tourism industry would want to get back on track quickly and develop unsustainable ways of clawing back business.

"This could have implications for transport, use of local products and services and the wider environmental issues."

Campaigning for substantial compensation from the Government over its handling of the foot and mouth affair is the UK Rural Business Campaign. Graham Williams, speaking for the campaign, said he wanted action groups in North Yorkshire to join him.

"It's frustrating. I keep hearing rumours of groups, but I can't find one," he said.

Of the grants for business, he said: "This is almost a rural manifestation of money being thrown at the inner city with no effect. They don't give the money to the people that need it. But if people just sit and moan, nothing will happen. That's what the Government is banking on."

He invited individuals and groups to call him on (01982) 560418.

Victor Buchanan, of Pickering in Business, runs the White Swan hotel in the town. He believes the Government will not give any more money.

He said: "Trying to force the Government is a pointless waste of time. People should just get on with their businesses. It's off the boil, September 11 put paid to that."

Updated: 09:26 Thursday, December 27, 2001