HALF a million pounds has been raised in just eight weeks in a bid to help small businesses, voluntary organisations and individuals hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Dales Recovery Appeal has passed the £500,000 mark thanks to backing from the Government's Countryside Agency, which has matched some of the funding.

The appeal aims to raise £1million, and the CA has pledged to extend its match-funding by giving £1 for every £1 donated by private individuals until September 30.

Appeal chairman John Sheard is urging anyone considering a donation to send the money in before the end of September, saying it would be doubly beneficial for the Dales.

"This could be a case of doubling your money," he said.

However, Mr Sheard warned: "Although this response has been most generous, we are discovering every day more and more people who are in desperate need of help.

Even if we hit our £1 million target our resources will still be stretched pretty thin."

The appeal will soon be able to offer grants to people in the Craven area, with most of the money used to target small businesses, which have lost trade, and voluntary groups, which have been forced to cancel fund-raising events.

Help will also go to individuals, like small farmers whose stock has not been culled but movement restrictions have prevented them from taking the animals to auction.

Cheque donations, payable to The Craven Trust Dales Recovery Appeal, can be sent to Peter Marshall, Hon.

Sec, the Dales Recovery Appeal, 76 Main Street, Addingham, Ilkley, West Yorks, LS29 0PD (tel 01943 831660).