A TOURIST chief is practising what he preaches by ditching overseas holidays and heading down to the farm instead.

North West Tourist Board chairman Anthony Goldstone took his family for a day out to hard hit Docker Park Farm at Arkholme and urged holidaymakers to follow his lead.

Mr Goldstone, who has already had two short breaks in Keswick this summer, said it was time people looked at what was on offer on their own doorsteps, especially in this catastrophic year of foot-and-mouth.

Owner of Docker Park Geoffrey Ford said takings for his working farm visitor attraction were down by 80 per cent.

Normally 80 schools would have visited the centre at this stage in the season, this year the figure stands at four.

Closed due to foot-and-mouth restrictions - the disease spread to within two miles of the farm - the results could have spelled disaster for Mr Ford and his wife Hilary.

Six part-time staff were laid off and Mrs Ford had to find full-time employment.

Ironically, she got a job with MAFF's licensing department.

Even after the farm re-opened for the end of May Bank Holiday, visitors have been slow to return.

"Sadly, many people still think the countryside is closed," said Mr Goldstone.

"In the fight-back for the rural economy, we have to stress that this is not the case."

Mr Ford said the situation had been serious.

"We spent £80,000 on a new team room and shop.

It was a big investment and there were no reserves left."

He said planning approval for dog kennels would provide some salvation over lean winter months.

"Easter was the bleakest time," he admitted.

"It's normally our busiest weekend of the year.

We felt so depressed, we went away.

Thankfully, things are picking up quite a bit now."