THE nightmare of foot-and-mouth prompted a Swaledale farming family to realise their dream of running a delicatessen.

Felicity and Alistair Davy, who farm at Low Oxque, Marrick, opened their shop, Pridham's, in Finkle Street, Richmond, last Friday.

"It is something I had always wanted to do but we were so busy on the farms," said Mrs Davy. "Then foot-and-mouth came and we lost a lot of money. We felt farming wasn't going to pick up and the bureaucracy is becoming a nightmare."

The owner of one of the family's farms wanted it back, which gave them the chance to scale down their agricultural operation and invest time in the shop venture.

Mr Davy's work spearheading the development of farmers' markets in the dales helped him gauge the demand for good quality, often locally-produced, food. "We learned that, if we could add value to our produce, there was a chance to go forward," he said.

Their elder son, Jay, relinquished his Army commission after returning from the Falklands last year and joined his parents in the shop; his younger brother, Nick, runs the farm.

Serious discussion about establishing a delicatessen began a year ago and the hunt for suitable premises led them to the former Smyth's bakery in Richmond.

"Farmers' markets were teaching us that there was a demand for really good quality stuff," said Mr Davy.

Local products already stocked include buffalo mozzarella cheese from Bert Langthorne of Northallerton; Frances Ingleby preserves; honey; bread from Thompson's of Bedale and Alison's Country Pantry cakes from Teesdale.

The shop is also a collection point for organic vegetable boxes from Low Leases farm, at Leeming Bar, and Stephen Knox's Yorkshire Dales beef, from Patrick Brompton. There are imported cooked meats and speciality sausage from the Continent, including an Iberician ham at a staggering £10 per 100g. "It was a gamble but I've already sold some of that," said Mrs Davy. "We wanted to offer something really special and hope that people will come in and treat themselves."