RURAL businesses in Bucks have been hit by the fall-out from the foot and mouth outbreak even though the county has remained free of the disease.

The Chilterns has always been a favourite for walkers but with many footpaths closed and, until recently country and National Trust properties shut, the tourist industry, village shops and pubs have been suffering.

Valerie Carter, rural sector director at SEEDA (South East England Development Agency), which is coordinating information from across the region, said: "The message is very clear that businesses in the region are suffering very badly indeed."

She said farming communities in parts of Aylesbury Vale and on the Bucks/Oxon borders are still restricted areas with many businesses, in particular in the tourist trade, reporting a downturn from 50 to 80 per cent in visitor numbers.

The Hampden Arms public house in Little Hampden is just one pub reporting a drop in trade. Landlady Barbara Matthews said: "I didn't realise how many people were walking before or after lunch."

Mary and Colin Marshall, who run the Village Store in West Wycombe, report a considerable drop in passing trade.

Mary said: "While West Wycombe Hill was closed it made a noticeable difference. Business is beginning to pick up now it has reopened and West Wycombe Caves are open at weekends."

Wendy Kirby, who runs The Grendon Stores, near Aylesbury, with her husband Chris, said businesses in the area had been affected since day one of the outbreak.

"We have lost about 20 per cent of business because of the fall in passing trade, such as workmen passing through, ramblers and cyclists. But we are very lucky compared to businesses in the areas where there is foot and mouth," she said.

Andrew Howard, MD of Beechdean Dairies in North Dean, which makes luxury ice-cream from its own specially-bred herd of Jersey cows, has seen a drop of a third in sales in the three weeks before Easter compared with the previous year. He puts this down to the closure of farm attractions, county shows and country and National Trust properties.

"Last week business picked up dramatically and sales have kicked back in, helped by the reopening of National Trust properties," he said.

However, Lynne Cairns, of Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said apart from farming and tourism, businesses in the area appeared to be coping and the chamber had not been told of any major problems.

Wycombe District Council, which is one of a number of organisations offering financial advice and aid packages, said it had received a number of telephone inquiries regarding hardship relief.