Foot-and-mouth victims turn to charity

Industry charity Hospitality Action has received pleas for help from 20 industry workers in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Tony Allen, chief executive of Hospitality Action, said: "We were contacted recently by a couple in Cumbria who run a guest house there and who have lost nearly 90% of their business during this crisis.

"We can't help to off-set business losses, but what we can do is help individuals who are struggling to pay their private bills."<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

Of the 20 people who have called for help after the outbreak, Hospitality Action is currently helping seven.

One couple, also from Cumbria, who set up a restaurant last December, had lost most of their business when foot-and-mouth hit the region. Despite cutting back on costs, they were still losing money and struggling to keep the restaurant going.

The couple called Hospitality Action, which has stepped in to help them with their personal utility bills so they can survive until business picks up again.

Last Friday Hospitality Action hosted the Hospitality Ball at London's Grosvenor House Hotel to raise money for hospitality workers in need of a helping hand. So far the event has raised £100,000.