A FARMING family at Coniston Cold has taken a new direction thanks to help and advice from Business Link York and North Yorkshire.

The help has enabled David and Jackie Coates, who lost their 160-strong dairy herd to foot-and-mouth disease, to diversify.

The couple were able to buy a new processing and packaging plant for haylage after Business Link York and North Yorkshire farm advisor Pat Lane helped them to apply for a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs .

They were awarded 35 per cent of the capital cost to part-fund two business ventures - Craven Country Ride, which opened a year ago, and Cravenbale Haylage, which has just reached the final stages of completion.

Their ventures were recently recognised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society when they were named as one of two winners awarded Best Alternative Enterprise in the Farming Enterprise Awards competition at this year's Great Yorkshire Show.

Mr Coates said: "Pat Lane at Business Link was absolutely brilliant in helping us with the business plan for our grant application, as well as providing us with ongoing help and advice in the running of our businesses.

"Since we started out, we have been riding a steep learning curve, but with the completion of the new equipment we have been encouraged by a positive start to the season. I am delighted that Cravenbale Haylage has come of age.

"Mr Coates and his family worked very hard last winter and I hope that with the completion of the new processing machine, they will enjoy a more efficient and profitable season this year."