GOVERNMENT Minister Alun Michael was urged yesterday to give more cash support to North Yorkshire as it struggles to cope with the effects of foot-and-mouth disease.

The rural affairs minister was in the county on a fact-finding mission to see how the disease has affected farming, business and the wider community.

He had a series of private meetings lined up but began his tour with a briefing in York from the regional Rural Economic Recovery Group.

Heather Hancock, environment director of regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, outlined measures being put in place - but said more help was needed.

"Our £4m programme is aimed at getting the region back on track in creating a sustainable and diverse rural economy," she said.

"But we also need more Government help, both in terms of extra funding and their continuing support for our flexible and responsive approach to events."

However, Mr Michael told journalists that his visits were part of a fact-finding tour around the country and could not give any details of what any future help might entail.

He said that, in the longer term, the Government's Rural White Paper would look at developing a sustainable policy for rural areas.

l Defra announced another case of foot and mouth yesterday. The latest outbreak was in Hexham, Northumberland.

Read more about the foot-and-mouth crisis here.