CASH support for rural businesses in the North-East has been extended to include dairy farmers.

The £1.5m Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) funding, which was approved by development agency One North East last year to support rural businesses, can now be accessed for projects including modernising milking parlours and calf feeding systems, installing small-scale renewable energy systems or diversifying into other commercial activities.

Regional director of the National Farmers’ Union, Richard Ellison, welcomed the move and said: “The dairy sector has been through a very turbulent time and many producers are still feeling the effects of the collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain.

“It’s good to see One North East extending their support.”

RDPE funds are being managed by the North-East England Investment Centre and accessed via Business Link with individual applicants required to secure up to 70 per cent of the total project costs from private sources. Funding will be available up to a maximum of £10,000.

Call 0845-600-9006 or visit business link.gov.uk/northeast for details.