A family-run North Yorkshire ice-cream business and tourist attraction which has already lost £50,000 because of the foot-and-mouth crisis has decided if the public can't visit it, it will take its business to customers.

Brymor ice-cream parlour at High Jervaulx has decided to set up a temporary home selling its award-winning ices to the public from Masham Town Hall - three miles down the road from its established base at a farm in the lower dales.

The firm will be selling its ice cream - heralded by a large banner outside - for the next three months at least.

The decision to set up the temporary home seven days a week in the town hall, starting on Wednesday, was taken after the firm was inundated with telephone calls, letters and cards wishing it well during the crisis. Some devotees wrote to say they were saying special prayers for an end to the crisis.

Production of the firm's ice- creams has continued at Jervaulx but sales to the public have been halted amid fears that foot-and-mouth could be spread to the 300-plus Guernsey cows providing milk for ice-cream production.

The farm is just yards away from the parlour and part of it is normally open as a visitor centre to see the Guernseys at close quarters.

Founder and managing director of the firm Mr Brian Moore said: "We have lost thousands of pounds in sales because of the present crisis. The public have been unable to come and buy their ice-creams in the parlour and on the wholesale front sales have been hit too, particularly at beauty spots where visitor numbers are greatly reduced," said Mr Moore.

He added: "We have been showered with letters, cards and hundreds of telephone calls wishing us well."