AN influential organisation is pressing the Government to make sure the public are given the facts about the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) represents the UK's landowners - many of whom want to press on with the recovery from the epidemic.

However, Yorkshire regional director Dorothy Fairburn said people needed to be reassured that lessons had been learnt from the outbreak.

She said: "The indications are that the public's concern for the countryside remains strong and widespread, and so the Government must listen and act to answer concerns and restore confidence. The recovery of the rural economy depends on it."

A poll commissioned by the CLA found more than 60 per cent of the public did not believe the rural economy had recovered from the crisis.

Miss Fairburn said: "The poll also showed nearly two thirds of people across Britain believe the Government should do more to help rural communities to recover.

"There was little difference in opinion between urban and rural dwellers."