NORTH Yorkshire farmers, who are still recovering from the foot and mouth crisis, were given a morale boost - and a string of new ideas - from Prince Charles, who visited them on Monday.
The Prince of Wales met a small group of farmers and rural business folk at Knayton Community Hall, near Thirsk, where he reassured farmers he was committed to representing their interests to the Government and decision-makers.
John Furness, who farms 750 acres at nearby Kirby Knowle and lost 2,120 animals to a foot and mouth cull in July, said the Prince had encouraged farmers to look at their options for the future.
He said: "We had a cross-section through this area from the small tenant farmer with a dairy herd who thought he couldn't do anything else, to some of the larger farms and big pig producers in the area.
"He gave them all encouragement and we were most impressed by how well informed he was and how much interest he took in meeting all of us."
Updated: 11:43 Thursday, December 20, 2001
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