WITH due respect to Britain's farmers, they do not enjoy universal sympathy.

Despite the undoubted misery spread by foot-and-mouth disease, many people retain the view that farmers expect - and receive - too much help from the State, compared with workers in other troubled industries.

Children are different - they touch almost everyone. That is why Jessica Cleminson's story has been so powerful.

On Tuesday, The Northern Echo revealed Jessica's diary of despair and laid bare her heartbreak at the slaughter of her favourite cow Caroline, along with an unborn calf.

The story has gone around the world. Messages of sympathy and support have flooded in to the family's farm at West Auckland, County Durham.

Yesterday - on the day the Government's chief scientific adviser, Professor David King, declared that the disease is finally under full control - the Prime Minister and Jessica's father Stephen were brought together at the offices of The Northern Echo in Darlington.

Mr Cleminson was given the chance to give Tony Blair his own perspective on the disaster, and the impact it has had on his family.

The Prime Minister quietly read Jessica's diary, which ended with the words: "Please Lord, how come you did this to us?"

It is right that Mr Blair meets ordinary farmers as well as the union officials who represent them. It can only help him build up a clearer picture of what needs to be done.

Mr Cleminson told him that there must be a radical restructuring of agriculture, with greater flexibility to allow farmers to diversify.

And, as the Prime Minister himself acknowledged, there is a clear need for an extensive review of the way this crisis was tackled, once we have confirmation that it is fully under control.

He knows that lessons must be learned from the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001 so that future risks can be minimised.

Sympathy is not enough. Better planning for the next epidemic - however distant that may be - must be a high priority.

Tony Blair is a father as well as a politician. And he will be acutely aware of the devastating consequences of this epidemic - not just on farmers, but their children too.