Rural pubs hit by election day delay

Tony Blair's decision to delay the general election is another blow to rural pubs already devastated by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Tourism leaders have criticised the decision, saying it sends out a message that Britain's countryside is closed - which will damage businesses that rely on tourists for trade.

Mr Blair said he had considered the likely impact delaying the election could have on the tourism industry and stressed the election would not be delayed indefinitely because it would be "bad for tourism".

But with Easter approaching and pubs in certain rural areas losing up to 80 per cent of their trade, the outlook is bleak for many licensees.

Alan Sellwood, licensee of the Forest Inn in Princetown in Dartmoor, said things were still bad in the area.

"Despite the protestations that the countryside is open, it's palpably not," he said. "We're still closed because there's just no customers. We are planning on opening for Easter so we'll see how it goes, but I can see it just being weekends from now on. We've made three staff redundant and there's half-a-dozen pubs on the moor in the same position as us."

Environment minister Michael Meacher has announced rate relief for pubs affected by the crisis if they can prove they have suffered "serious economic loss".

Mr Sellwood said: "Everything helps but our rates are about £500 a month so even if we got 90 per cent rebate that wouldn't cover our rent."

The Scottish Executive's enterprise minister Wendy Alexander has also announced a £13.5m package to help businesses survive the effects of the epidemic.

There will be a similar rate relief programme to that in England as well as emergency advice and assistance for businesses. James Bond star Sean Connery has been recruited to encourage Americans to visit Scotland this summer.

Leaders of tourist businesses in Cumbria have called for an autumn bank holiday to help them catch up on earnings they fear they will lose over the traditionally profitable Easter break.

Meanwhile, Wayside Inns has pledged to help farmers hit by the disease by donating £1 for every Farmers Stockpot meal ordered in each of the 68 Whitbread-owned pubs.

Retail director David Pepper said: "Many of our pubs are in rural locations. Our managers are passionate about supporting local farmers in the current circumstances."

The money will be donated to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute Fund.