THE foot-and-mouth crisis has continued to take its toll on summer events.

The Masham steam rally, Nidderdale show and a Bedale 750 event were all cancelled this week.

The loss of the Masham event, scheduled to take place on July 21 and 22, was a major blow to the economy of the town.

The committee that organises the event met on Tuesday. Members unanimously voted to cancel the 37th annual rally due to the worsening foot-and-mouth crisis in Skipton and Settle and an isolated outbreak this week at Kirkby Malzeard.

Last year's event attracted about 17,000 people over two days, with many coming from outside the area.

"It is sad because it is 37 years old and has never been cancelled, but we had no other option," said event organiser Mrs Flo Grainger, who has been involved with the steam rally for more than 30 years.

Nidderdale show chairman Mr Trevor Stoney said his committee had been swayed in making its decision by the cancellation of the Great Yorkshire show,.

Mr Stoney said: "Disappointment is not a strong enough word for how the committee feels. We were hoping that by September there was a possibility we would be able to have a show, but things have worsened in this area dramatically."

A vintage tractor rally has become the first event to be cancelled in the four-month calendar of Bedale 750 celebrations.

The rally was due to take place in Bedale Hall park on Saturday, June 16, but many of the vintage machines are kept on farms in North Yorkshire and other counties affected by foot-and-mouth.

l Bedale 750 latest: page 7.