NORTH Yorkshire communities hit by the foot and mouth crisis are to receive a "welcome boost to morale" from the Prince of Wales. The Prince is coming to the county on Monday, December 17, to show his support for those most affected by the outbreak, and to see how local people are working together to keep rural facilities and young entrepreneurs in the countryside.

Part of his visit is to the Thirsk area, where local farmer John Furness has helped to organise a meeting with farmers and business people in the village of Knayton.

Mr Furness, who is a North Yorkshire Council Member of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, said: "The Prince's visit will give a most welcome boost to morale at a time when those farmers who have had their stock culled have been involved in the lengthy cleaning and disinfecting process.

"The Thirsk 'Blue Box' bio-security area increased the difficulties on arable farms during harvest and autumn work, and also caused heavy financial losses to the large number of pig farmers unable to move their stock.

"We are looking forward to discussing our plans for the future with the Prince of Wales."

Earlier in the visit, the Prince is due to strike a blow for country pubs, when he launches the Pub is the Hub guide as part of Business in the Community's Rural Action Initiative.

The initiative is to combat a trend which has seen an estimated six rural pubs closing each week, and the new guide will be launched at the Craven Heifer pub in Stainforth, near Settle, which has a post office and shop at one end of the premises, helping it to remain a thriving part of the local community despite foot and mouth's impact on tourism.

Also during that part of the visit to the Craven area, which was particularly badly hit by the epidemic, he will visit Skipton Auction Mart to speak to local farmers and other business people.

And while in Settle, he will launch the expansion across the whole of Yorkshire of a project for young business enterprise. The project started in the Yorkshire Dales in 1999.

Updated: 10:44 Thursday, December 13, 2001