THE Government's rural recovery coordinator will be in North Yorkshire today, hearing first-hand about the impact of foot-and-mouth on businesses and communities.

Lord Haskins' role is to assist local authorities and other agencies in planning for the economic recovery of Cumbria, the area worst hit by the disease.

But he is also visiting other regions where foot-and-mouth has had a considerable impact - and North Yorkshire, with 140 cases to date, is among the four regions worst affected.

Following a briefing by officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Lord Haskins will be visiting Skipton, Settle and Hawes.