A STUDY by a North-East university has revealed that farmers, far from quitting the industry in the wake of foot-and-mouth, intend to stay put.

The study by Newcastle University - Coping With Crisis in Cumbria: The Consequences of Foot and Mouth Disease - involved 67 farmers in Cumbria, the area worst hit by the epidemic.

Last year, it suffered 44 per cent of the UK's cases and saw a third of its livestock slaughtered.

The study found that despite suffering severe financial hardship and emotional distress, only one planned to give up farming, 63 meant to continue and three were unsure.

The report, published today, comes exactly one year after the foot-and-mouth outbreak reached its height.

It was commissioned by the Northern Fells Rural Project, part of the Prince of Wales' Rural Revival Initiative.

The findings contradict gloomy predictions of an exodus from the land, showing that seven per cent of those farmers questioned plan to expand, while most show little interest in other sources of income.

Those behind the report say it demonstrates the Cumbrian farming community's collective resilience, which could be reflected in other places badly hit by the crisis such as County Durham and Northumberland.

Dr Katy Bennett, one of the Newcastle University research team, said: "Most farmers hanker for a return to what they know as normality and intend to restock.

"Some are highly sceptical of talk about alternatives, and others feel deeply committed to continuing in farming."

Read more about the Foot-and-Mouth crisis here.