AN economic catastrophe is poised to strike the Yorkshire dales and moors as foot-and-mouth begins to rip the heart from rural businesses.

As thousands of visitors obey requests to stay away, tourism-related businesses this week stared disaster in the face as fears grew that the Easter trade would be hit.

In a normal March, visitors to the North York Moors National Park spend £4.8m - £1.6m on food and drink alone.

Some 3,000 local jobs are linked to the tourism industry but all are now under pressure after the park virtually closed down.

As the number of foot-and-mouth cases nationally reached 104, officials repeated their message that all public footpaths and bridleways are closed - even the famous Farndale daffodil walk, which attracts 35,000 visitors, is now out of bounds.

It is the first time in living memory that such action has been taken and the popular Moorsbus services have also been cancelled.

The Feversham Arms in Farndale has already been hard hit with landlady Frances Debenham having reportedly served only two bar meals last week.

In Wensleydale, where the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Yorkshire was confirmed on Wednesday, almost half the population is involved with either agriculture or tourism - in many cases both.

Many bed and breakfast establishments and hotels had reported people cancelling holidays even before the outbreak was announced.

Every person in the dale will be affected in some way but there was only sympathy for the farming family concerned.

Church bells are to be rung daily at Leyburn and Bellerby as an expression of sympathy for the area's farmers

Following confirmation of the outbreak, a cordon was thrown around the dale and the main A684 road was declared a no-go area for all but essential traffic.

Disinfectant matting was installed at access points and police officers patrolled the road, which passes the affected Raygill House Farm between Hawes and Bainbridge.

Schools saw pupil numbers drop as youngsters from farming families stayed away.

Coun John Blackie, North Yorkshire county councillor for the upper dales, said Wednesday's confirmation was the worst blow imaginable for the area.

Fifty-two farms lay within the 3km restriction zone and the news for the 25pc of his ward residents who earned their living from the land was "disastrous."

"No-one in the upper dale is likely to be unaffected by this," he said. "It will have a serious knock-on effect on every business."

In the front line was Hawes Creamery which uses milk from 46 local producers, including the affected farm, to produce cheeses, and employs 130 people.

Manufacturing was unaffected when the D&S Times went to press, but precautions in place last week continued. These included washing and disinfecting all vehicles entering and leaving the site, and closure of the visitor centre, museum and restaurant.

Ms Alice Amsden, technical director, said: "The creamery will continue to follow all guidelines and instructions necessary to help contain the outbreak.

"This is a very serious development which could have a devastating effect on the whole agricultural community in the area."

Mr David Butterworth, Yorkshire Dales National Park authority chief executive, said the outbreak was very bad news for the farming and tourist industries of the area.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the farming family affected by this outbreak and to the other farmers in the area who face a worrying time," he said.

The authority offered to help agencies working to prevent the disease spreading. Wardens and rangers would police rights of way closures and publicise the public message to stay away from farmland.

The authority closed the Dales Countryside Museum at Hawes and Aysgarth falls information centre.