ALMOST £70,000 has been donated in about three weeks to a farmers' fund established by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Cheques that have been handed over to the society by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Society, the Farm Crisis Network and the Samaritans have taken the fund total to £69,127.

The society's head of finance, Nigel Pulling, said yesterday: "The response has been tremendous.

"The fund really seems to have struck a chord - people just want to do something practical to help the farming community.

"Some of the letters and notes which have come with the donations are very poignant.

"There is enormous sympathy for farmers and their families, and a realisation that this is a problem which will have long-term effects.