CHILDREN trapped on a farm in an area hit by foot-and-mouth were brought some Easter cheer by village friends yesterday.

The Gaudie family of Stamfrey Farm, West Rounton near Northallerton, have been in self-imposed quarantine since the very beginning of the foot and mouth epidemic. Their farm lies in a Maff-designated infected area, following a rash of outbreaks at nearby Danby Wiske.

Unable to play with youngsters from the village, William, aged six, five year-old Sam and Joe, three, haven't seen their friends for weeks.

Yesterday, the local church Sunday school club went up to the farm gates and threw gifts over the hedge, literally showering the three brothers with sweets and toys.

The visit was the brainchild of the Rev Mr Tim Jones, priest in charge of the Rountons and Welbury churches. "We are using the trip as a way of teaching the children about how foot-and-mouth is affecting local people," he said.

"The boys at Stamfrey Farm are getting cabin fever, what with it being the Easter holidays and this is just another way to try to keep them occupied."

The sweet throwers were disinfected at St Oswald's church in West Rounton, before walking up to the farm and being disinfected again at the gates.

The gesture was welcomed by Mr Angus Gaudie and his wife Sue. "I think it is wonderful," said Mrs Gaudie. "The children go to Ingleby Arncliffe school, so they haven't seen their friends in the village for weeks.

"They didn't know anything about it, so when the children turned up it was a lovely surprise."

"I haven't left the farm in six weeks," said Mr Gaudie, aged 36. "After we thought the worst was over and that the disease wouldn't spread to North Yorkshire, we let the kids go back to school for a couple of weeks.

"But even then they were disinfected and had a bath as soon as they came home. They must be the cleanest kids in the parish"