RURAL projects affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak have been awarded grants of more than £10,000 by mental health charity Mind.

Among those to receive £10,400 grants from Rural Minds, the charity's rural arm, are Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (UTASS), at Middleton-in-Teesdale.

A spokeswoman for Mind said the money had been donated by the public in response to an appeal by the charity, and had been matched by the Countryside Agency.

She said: "The money will enable help and support to be targeted at the rural communities throughout County Durham and Northumberland that have been the most devastated by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"Early intervention for mental distress in rural areas remains crucial. Mind has warned that the long-term effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis will have a considerable impact on the mental health of the farming communities and those living in the countryside for many years to come."

UTASS was set up before foot-and-mouth struck, but since the outbreak the number of people using the service has increased dramatically.

The project operates as a drop-in centre for people to seek advice or just have a chat, and runs courses in subjects such as computer skills and food hygiene.