THE foot-and-mouth crisis has had a severe impact on North Yorkshire's economy, but ironically hotels in Northallerton and Thirsk are experiencing a boom in business.

However, it is not holidaymakers who have taken virtually every room available - but an estimated 80 vets and veterinary students.

For weeks, group hotel bookings have been made by Defra's foot-and-mouth emergency control centre in Leeds - and the bookings could continue into the autumn.

The demand has resulted in a shortage of accommodation for some other government workers and tourists.

The bigger hotels have been very busy. Sundial hotel manager Mrs Shirley Tague said: "We have been more or less fully booked for weeks with Defra people - they make bookings for weeks at a time.

"There have been about 28 guests here for the last few months. We had 20 vets from Australia and some from Spain. I have turned a few people away, which was hard."

The Golden Lion was fully booked on Wednesday and Thursday night. A receptionist said some visitors had unfortunately been turned away but some rooms were usually available.

A receptionist at the Golden Fleece in Thirsk said: "We have been busy for the last couple of months. We have four vets here and we might be getting some more until the end of August. One is here until September. Defra is continually making bookings.

"Thirsk races have made things busy too. Our bedrooms were all booked on Wednesday and Thursday."

Mr Geoff Lancaster, a volunteer at Northallerton tourist information centre, said: "I have had quite a few tourist inquiries. I directed some to Leeming Bar and Bedale. One gentleman tried to find accommodation all over the district and eventually found a place in Northallerton."

However, centre manager Mr Gordon Davies thought demand was normal.

Mr David Shield, Hambleton District Council's accommodation manager, said there were 35 places offering accommodation around Northallerton.

"Foot-and-mouth has hit a lot of things and general trade has dipped 30 or 40pc. However, the Herriot centre at Thirsk has done well with visitors, including overseas tourists, and Thirsk races are on again. For all these reasons, hotels experience problems with shortages. It has been a strange year.