THE Government has been urged not to overlook rural communities when it considers pouring State aid into disadvantaged areas.

The Country Land and Business Association in Yorkshire claimed that rural poverty and deprivation were all too often sidelined while the inner-city slums and estates grabbed the headlines.

"Homelessness exists in rural areas and a lack of adequate services and facilities for education, transport and policing pervades many rural areas," said Dorothy Fairburn, regional director for the CLA.

"It is all too easily forgotten that the rural economy has suffered from its deepest and longest recession since the Thirties. Following a traumatic year in which the countryside was ravaged by foot-and-mouth disease, the rural economy is in an extremely vulnerable position."

Miss Fairburn said the CLA was campaigning to ensure rural areas became the thriving communities they once were.

The Government's own countryside adviser, the Countryside Agency, had said that basic services such as public transport and health care were far from adequate.

"We are worried that most rural settlements have neither a general store nor a small village shop," said Miss Fairburn. "More than half do not have a public house and almost a third do not have a public transport facility.

"The number of post offices in the countryside continues to decline, and the CLA is seriously concerned that the possible ending of the Post Office monopoly on postal services could have a seriously detrimental impact on those living in deprived rural areas."

Rural homelessness was also increasing and affordable housing was a very important issue which was linked to both adequate employment opportunities and services such as shops and schools.

Rural crime was an increasing concern for those living in rural areas.

"We welcome the Government's commitment in the Rural White Paper to increase police resources in rural areas but improvements must be backed up by the Home Office and the local police authority," said Miss Fairburn.

"All our concerns are being brought to the attention of the Government and we hope they listen. The rural areas are important to this country."