FEARS that some businesses in and around Hawes will not survive winter because of the ravages of foot-and-mouth have been expressed by the chairman of the Upper Wensleydale Business Association.

Kate Emsley said that although a few footpaths had opened up in parts of the dale in July, it had come too late for people to make their main holiday bookings in Wensleydale.

"Businesses will never make up for the losses made in earlier months, and I fear that a number of businesses will not survive winter," she said.

Monthly surveys by the association have shown that businesses have been struggling for six months but there are indications of a slight pick-up in trade.

The 21 hotels and bed and breakfast establishments that are taking part in the July survey reported downturns in trade ranging from 100 to 25 per-cent compared to last year, with four full-time and six part-time staff laid off.

Some reported that they had received short notice bookings and some passing trade.

The 12 self-catering providers taking part in the survey reported that breaks at short notice had helped top up trade.

Their downturn in business ranged from nought per cent to 75 per cent.

Of the 56 businesses taking part in the survey, the number of full-time staff who have lost their jobs is six with 55 part-timers being laid off, 42 of them in the livestock sales sector.

"Hawes looks very busy on some days for a few hours, but on others very quiet," said Ms Empsall.

"At night the streets are empty of parked cars, showing that many visitors are probably only here for the day.

Day visitors do not have the same spending power as over-nighters."