A SLUMP in the bacon market has forced one of the few remaining pig farms in Teesdale to switch to the tourism industry to remain viable.

The family-run Thorpe Farm, at Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, has been hit hard by competition from cheap continental imports.

Now its owners have decided to turn their back on bacon production after 20 years in the business.

The farm, which is owned by Barkes Farms, has sold the few remaining pigs it owned and will now concentrate on a farm shop, delicatessen, caf and restaurant that has attracted thousands of visitors since it opened to customers in May.

The farm also offers function rooms, car parking and an adventure playground for children.

Paul Barkes, director of Barkes Farms, said: "The economic downturn in bacon pig production and other traditional agricultural enterprises means that production of agricultural commodities is no longer viable for our business."

"There is great personal sadness as the last pigs leave the site, but our business is changing as we learn to farm people rather than livestock.

"Opening this site in the middle of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic was very nerve-wracking for us, although the performance of this venture since has justified our confidence in the project and the long-term planning we have undertaken."

But despite the success of the venture, which is well on the way to becoming the second most popular visitor attraction in the dale, the farm's owners feel more needs to be done to encourage new tourist attractions to open in Teesdale in the wake of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Mr Barkes said: "We need to develop more unique and distinctive attractions in Teesdale to create real destination appeal."

Teesdale farmer David Maughan, chairman of the North-East committee of the National Farmers' Union livestock committee, said: "Competition from abroad, coupled with new standards in the welfare of pigs, has crippled many pig farmers."