FARMERS' wives are planning a tasty menu for summer.

The women who run bed and breakfast accommodation in County Durham have taken a positive view of the future, despite losses from last year's foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Twelve women joined a catering course run by Liz Curry, proprietor at Horsely Hall, a hotel near Bishop Auckland.

The course was backed by Farmstay UK, which promotes farm holidays.

Liz said: "When our business was badly hit, we knew that to survive we had to improve the quality of our service."

The women approached Business Link County Durham, which identified funding by the Regional Development Agency for farmers affected by foot-and-mouth.

John Atkinson, business improvement consultant at Business Link County Durham, supported the venture and helped co-ordinate the training.

"Farmers in this area were hard-hit by foot-and-mouth, but these women have taken a positive step to carry on and improve their product in the face of ruin," he said.

"They are gearing up for what we all hope will be a great season for local holidays."

The women involved are now hoping that they will have the opportunity to continue to improve their business skills, and will carry on pooling their ideas and resources.

June Wearmouth, of Farmstay UK (Durham and North East Farm Holidays) which promotes tourism in the area, said: "Pulling together has given us a broader spectrum of ideas and helped us all build our confidence and experience."