A Northallerton pig farming family who lost all their livestock during the foot and mouth crisis is back in the pink, after receiving help and advice from Business Link York and North Yorkshire.

John and Pat Wheldon, who have fully restocked their 80-acre farm, have diversified under the guidance of Business Link farm-related business adviser Bill Langhamer.

The Wheldons enlisted the help of Business Link after a change in legislation meant the farm became classified as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, restricting the amount of effluent allowed to be spread on the land.

To meet requirements the Wheldons retained their 180 sows, but decided to sell the offspring at 12 weeks instead of 24 weeks, reducing the amount of effluent produced, but also reducing their income.

With the loss of revenue the family needed to find a new revenue stream and, assisted by Mr Langhamer, they explored a number of options, one of which was to convert an existing farm building into an engineering workshop.

Mr Langhamer then helped the couple to devise a detailed business plan and obtain a £21,000 Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from Defra to fund 40 per cent of the cost of the project.

John and Pat now rent the workshop to their son Anthony, who has moved his engineering business AJW Engineering Ltd from its previous location in Worsall.

This has created part-time employment for two local farmers, whose livelihoods were also affected by foot and mouth, and provides additional work for their other son, Phillip, who divides his working hours between the workshop and the pig farm.

Mr Wheldon said: "Bill was invaluable in helping us decide what direction to take and gave us essential business advice. "Thanks to Business Link we found an option that benefits not only Pat and I, but our whole family and the wider community."

Mr Langhamer said: "After losing all their stock to foot and mouth John and Pat faced a long, hard road to recovery.

"They then had the added pressure of complying with the new effluent legislation and resulting loss of income. Their success goes to show what can be achieved with a bit of creative thinking, sound business practice and a lot of hard work."

Updated: 10:56 Thursday, February 19, 2004