A call has been made for a wider base of industry in the Lake District in a bid to create a more diverse rural economy.

National Park officer Paul Tiplady told the annual meeting of the Cumbria Tourist Board there was a need for a wider industry base instead of relying too heavily on the tourism industry.

He said tourism should be "buoyant but not dominant" in the region and believed the effects of foot-and-mout had highlighted the need for a "safety net".

"Cumbria is suffering terribly at the moment and there has been the feeling that the National Park is slowly dying," said Mr Tiplady to the packed meeting at Kendal's Castle Green Hotel.

"However, we can and are preparing for the return to normality.

We have to remain vigilant and as long as we are then we will be alright."

He said tourism had been badly affected by not just foot-and-mouth but also by last year's floods, fuel crisis and strong pound and stressed a need for different

industries in order to prevent too much reliance on one industry.

"It is not about curtailing tourism but about creating a diverse rural economy for the future," added Mr Tiplady.

Chris Collier, chief executive of Cumbria Tourist Board, said tourism was not just one industry.

"Tourism is ten industries not one and include self-catering, camping, retail and hospitality," she said.