A FUND set up to help people recover from the effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis was boosted by a £2,500 donation from the Cumberland and Westmorland Provincial Benevolent Fund.

The Cumbria Community Foundation set up the Community Recovery Fund in April to help voluntary groups and individuals whose income had been severely affected by the effects of the disease.

Administrator Debbie Young said that the latest donation put the fund well on its way to reaching its £1.2million target.

Already around £250,000 of funds has been allocated to help people suffering significant hardship as a result of the crisis.

Ms Young said the appeal had met with a generous response from people locally and further afield, and said she would like to say thank you to anyone who had made a donation.

"We've really been getting money from far and wide, because the appeal has been on our website as well, but the generosity from people within Cumbria has been great as well."

It is planned that the fund will run for the next two or three years to help people cope with problems now and long-term effects of the crisis, and to help promote recovery in the wake of the disease.

To make a donation people can send cheques made payable to the Community Recovery Fund to Unit 6B, Lakeland Business Park, Cockermouth, or call 01900-825760.

People wishing to apply for grants should call the same number.