|PIC1|A church-based fund for farmers affected by the recent flooding across parts of central and southern England is to be expanded to cover farmers affected by the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

The ARC-Addington Fund (Arthur Rank Centre-Addington Fund) recently appealed for fresh donations to bring relief to farmers who lost crops and livestock in the devastating June and July floods.

The fund will now cover any hardship resulting from restrictions imposed on farmers following the latest outbreak of foot and mouth.

The ARC has teamed up with Farming Help Charities to plan out a support and resources strategy.

Pastoral support and care is already available from the Farm Crisis Network and local clergy for farmers located within the protection zone in Surrey, where the outbreak of foot and mouth disease was confirmed on Woolford's Farm last week.

"Nationwide all farmers will be feeling extremely anxious about this outbreak and there will be significantly heightened levels of stress for many livestock farmers," said Jill Hopkinson, National Rural Officer at the ARC.

"This outbreak comes after an extremely difficult period of all farmers, many of whom will already be feeding winter feed to animals brought in due to the severe weather, or be experiencing cash flow difficulties due to increasing costs or lost income."

The ARC is appealing to Christians to encourage their networks, clergy and congregation to provide support for their local farmers.

"Pastoral concern for the farming community and then for other rural
businesses drawn in should be uppermost for rural clergy and congregations. Staying in regular contact has to be the priority," added Ms Hopkinson.

Around 120 cattle were culled over the weekend as a precaution against the further spread of the virus.

Experts are still trying to confirm the source of the outbreak, although all eyes are on the Government-funded Pirbright research site, located just three miles from the farm.

Another nearby laboratory run by Merial Animal Health Ltd, owned jointly by US drug maker Merck & Co Inc and the French company Sanofi-Aventis SA, also ceased production on Saturday while investigations continue.

The Government is rushing to contain the outbreak in order to prevent a repeat of the 2001 outbreak which resulted in the slaughter of more than six million animals.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told BBC radio, "People are at the site working very, very hard to try and find out (what happened). We are not dealing with certainty here, but we have got the best people we can find doing the work and we will continue to follow the science at every stage.

"The single most important thing we want is to contain this outbreak."