RURAL Affairs minister Mr Alun Michael will be handed a dossier of devastation when he visits North Yorkshire on Monday.

The county has compiled a series of case studies showing the havoc wreaked on farms, businesses and tourism by the foot-and-mouth and it coincides with a regional survey by the Federation of Small Businesses which showed 10pc of respondents faced closure, 7pc bankruptcy, and a third expected a 50pc drop in trade over the next 12 months.

Only 6pc of the respondents were in agriculture, showing the disease was having a major impact on trade, manufacturing and service industries, including tourism. The vast majority (85pc) wanted the government to pay compensation to all businesses affected.

The FSB has urged the government to give immediate financial support. It also wants grants with minimal red tape; temporary suspension of business rates for all affected businesses; and more action from the North-East rural task force.

On Monday leading councillors from North Yorkshire County Council will meet Mr Michael to drive home their own message about the problems associated with foot-and-mouth.

Case studies to be presented to Mr Michael include the National Trust's Beningbrough Hall, near York, which has been closed since the disease began. The hall estimates it has lost £300,000 to date, £140,000 of which would have been re-invested in repairs and development work. A major impact has been the loss of work for 40 seasonal staff from the local area.

In Goathland Mr Keith Simmons and his wife, Sandra, run a bed and breakfast business in the middle of "Heartbeat" country. Normally their three rooms are fully-let for seven months but have been empty for two.

Footpath closures caused the biggest setback and the couple's own survey showed 17 people in the area earned their living from farming but more than 120 depended on tourism.