TWO Saltash churches are to collect money this weekend in aid of a fund for farmers affected by the nationwide foot and mouth epidemic.

Saltash Team Ministry - St Nicholas and St Faith and St Stephens churches - will be holding retiring collections at the end of all their services.

The collections will then be sent to the ARC Addington appeal.

Team Rector, Rev Can Richard Maynard, said, 'The whole community is very concerned about all those caught up in crisis caused by foot and mouth disease.'

Rev Maynard hopes that the idea will show that those not directly involved in farming want to do what they can to help during this time of crisis for the agricultural industry saying, 'We are anxious to support farming in a practical way.

'The clergy are anxious to assure all our farming families that they are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Our farmers are remembered whenever we go to the altar to celebrate the Holy Communion, and at all other times of prayer, in short they are remembered before God every day.'

Farmhouse

Despite working in an urban area, Rev Maynard said: 'I have been a country parson. I have often enjoyed the homely atmosphere of farmhouse kitchens here in South East Cornwall.

'I know farming families. I am very aware of the deep anxieties filling the minds of many of those who are involved in the agricultural industry.

'One can only begin to imagine the stress that is being felt by farmers themselves and their wives, their children and those who work with them on the land.

'The difficulties that the restriction of movement of livestock places on farming businesses, with its inevitable stemming of cash flow, is itself bound to create profound difficulties and there are many more concerns than this.'

He commented that while cases in Cornwall have been limited to two, the restrictions of movement in the countryside, to help stop the spread of the disease, have had serious effects on agriculture.

With little chance of the disease improving, fears have also turned to the tourist industry.

There is little access to fields and footpaths, limiting the choice of activities that are on offer for potential holiday makers. Ninety per cent of the coastal footpath runs on farmland which is currently grazed.

On the restrictions, Rev Maynard said that at the moment it would be 'unwise, indeed stupid' for members of the clergy to visit farms.

He said that his message to farmers at this time was: 'Sometimes, when it is difficult to cope, it is bad to be alone and good to talk. Remember your clergy are trained to listen, and that you are among their highest priorities.'