FARMERS in the region are being urged to attend a series of meetings to show them how to access funds to help their businesses recover from foot-and-mouth disease.

The Government has allocated £1.6bn for rural development over the next seven years.

The cash will be available through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), and much is expected to be directed at the North-East and North Yorkshire, which were hit hard by the epidemic.

The cash will primarily be used to help farmers diversify.

Andrew Suddes, senior rural economy advisor with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Rural Development Service, said it was important farmers knew how to access funding.

He said: "This series of meetings is aimed at letting farmers know what funding is available via the ERDP for diversification and marketing initiatives, as well as explaining the process of making an application.

"The main focus is on schemes that primarily address rural economy issues, but we are also dealing with the link that these schemes have with the agri-environmental elements of ERDP, which focus on promoting environmental awareness and good practice."

The first meeting was held at Alwinton, in Northumberland last week, and the next one will be held at the Tankerville Arms, in Wooler, on Wednesday.

Other meetings are due to be held in the North-East in April and May, but dates have yet to be announced.

Anyone wishing to attend the Wooler or subsequent meetings should call the Rural Development Service on 0191-214 1800.