Blair in plea to the 'lost' tourists

Accompanied by his wife, Cherie, the Prime Minister visited York in an effort to encourage the stay-at-homes to venture out.

Media from as far afield as Japan and the US followed him as he arrived in York on his mission to restore confidence in the region's holiday industry, which has been left reeling from the knock-on effects of foot-and-mouth disease.

Nationally, it is estimated that the crisis is costing the industry at least £200m and 200 jobs each week, and with no sign of the crisis abating the future is looking bleak.

Mr Blair hit the tourism trail to launch a massive promotion programme, insisting that the best thing that could happen was the return of the missing visitors.

"We will do everything we possibly can but the main thing tourism needs is the tourists back," he said.

"Britain is open and the vast majority of attractions are open. The biggest thing we can do is get that message across loud and clear."

Questioned on a local radio phone-in programme, he ruled out compensating businesses for their losses.

"There is no way we can compensate everyone in the industry. It is, after all, taxpayer's money we are talking about," he said.

But he said assistance was available through an extension to the Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme and through tax and rate relief.

During his stay, Mr Blair visited the city's Jorvik Viking Centre, which is due to re-open today, after an extensive, £5m refurbishment programme.

Mrs Blair, accompanied by local Labour MP Hugh Bayley, strolled through the city centre to visit the award-winning museum.

The Blairs later travelled to Leeds to visit the region's Maff base, and went on to meet farmers in the Bronte village of Haworth, near Keighley.

Their visit to the region came as North Yorkshire County Council announced that a limited number of footpaths and bridleways, away from the infected areas, would be re-opened in the next week

Read more about foot-and-mouth here.