Rural businesses in North Yorkshire affected by the foot and mouth crisis are to benefit from an extra £1m of European funding.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in Yorkshire welcomed the announcement of the new grants from Yorkshire Forward, the Government's regional development organisation.

Yorkshire Forward's Business Recovery Fund has secured a further £1m of European funding for businesses operating in North and West Yorkshire.

Provided that the businesses are not operating in agriculture, fishing, transport or primary food processing, they can apply for a maximum of £15,000 but will need to fund 13 per cent of the costs of any project themselves.

Applicants can register through Business Link North Yorkshire, on (01904) 686000, by September 27.

Firms will then be invited to submit a full business plan by November 29.