ORGANISATIONS are gathering to debate the future of Teesdale in the wake of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.

They will discuss ways in which businesses and farmers can rebuild for the future.

The public seminar is open to anyone from the area whose livelihood has been affected by the disease.

Representatives of various organisations will be available to give advice.

The seminar is being hailed as an important means of offering guidance to affected businesses in the dale, which has seen 63 per cent of its livestock destroyed.

Teesdale is one of the worst affected foot-and-mouth districts in the country. Many farmers in the area face an uncertain future in the aftermath of the disease.

Visitor numbers have been down and the knock-on effect on shops and businesses in Barnard Castle and the surrounding area has been devastating.

A recent visit by rural advocate Ewen Cameron has helped to raise the moral of struggling businesses.

Now community leaders in Teesdale are eager for businesses to draw up a long-term recovery plan for the area.

Charles Anderson, chief executive of Teesdale District Council, said action was needed to ensure the rural economy could bounce back.

He said: "This seminar is very important for Teesdale, which is the third-worst hit district in the country, but in terms of Government aid, this is not reflected.

"The area has been devastated by the epidemic, and we want to bring agencies and the public together to work out a long-term strategy to revive the region and try to remain positive."

The seminar is the result of meetings of the Teesdale Task Group, formed in April to discuss the effects of foot-and-mouth on the area.

Organisations already involved in the seminar include the economic development department at Durham County Council, the Government Office for the North-East, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Cumbria County Council, the Small Business Services, Business Link, One NorthEast and the National Farmers' Union.

The meeting is next Friday, at Teesdale House, Barnard Castle, at 10am. For details call (01833) 690000.