A MAJOR boost has been given to the Farmers' Fund, set up in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, with news that it will receive Government cash help.

Some £89,000 has been given by the Countryside Agency, bringing the total to £244,578, which has been raised since the fund was set up in March.

It was established to help farmers in Yorkshire and the north through three charities: the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), Farm Crisis Network and The Samaritans.

Bill Cowling, chairman of the society's grants and education committee, said: "Help is still desperately needed by farmers who are having to pay their bills, but without the income to do so.

"The society gave £50,000 to kick-start the fund, and since then we have had donations from far and wide, from young and old, from businesses and organisations. The response has been tremendous."

The fund has had a significant impact on the amount of money given by RABI to farmers. Since the crisis began, RABI has given £428,342 to 353 families in North, East, West and South Yorkshire - a substantial part of this has come from the Fund.

Chris Andrews, regional organiser for RABI, said: "The support the YAS Fund has received has been amazing, and the match funding means we can do so much more to help. Every time we have news like this, it gives everyone such a lift to know people still care.

"The crisis has been going on for so long we're finding that farmers are having to come back to us again for help.

"Some situations are literally desperate, so every donation really counts. It's important for the farming community to know that help and support will continue."

Updated: 08:54 Thursday, June 07, 2001