NICK Brown, the hard-pressed Agriculture Minister, is an honourable man who has, arguably, had the most difficult ministerial portfolio to deal with. The present foot-and-mouth crisis is just one of a number he has had to deal with.

Initial misgivings in the farming community about his views on and his knowledge of, farming have given way to respect. He tries hard and has the interests of farmers at heart.

Every now and again, however, his non-rural roots are exposed. Sunday's appearance on television's Breakfast with Frost programme was one such occasion when a clearly pre-occupied Mr Brown suggested that those walkers who were being advised to stay off farmland should instead head for the national parks.

Which of course lends support to the oft-repeated theory that government and Whitehall has some sort of idealised view of national parks as playgrounds and not working environments.

Too late

The racing industry did itself no favours this week with its belated decision to suspend all meetings while efforts continue to contain the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

It came about 24 hours later than it should have. Such a timespan could be crucial in the fight against the spreading infection and Spectator hopes the Tuesday meeting at Catterick - one of the last to be held nationally - does not prove to be a contributory cause.

Congratulations then to Ferdy Murphy, the West Witton-based trainer who withdrew from the meeting when it became clear that moving his five horses offered obvious potential for spreading the disease.

Carnival crunch

Next Wednesday could be crunch day for Northallerton's annual carnival. As readers of our Yorkshire edition will be aware, the volunteers who have run it for years felt, quite understandably, that enough is enough. New blood is needed to take over.

Sadly, no volunteeers have volunteered and the carnival is now at risk.

If the good folk of North Yorkshire's county town cannot stir themselves it will be a shame on them and the town.

Spectator trusts some good citizens will be at the town hall on Wednesday night (7.30)