THE inadequacy of the foot-and-mouth rescue package being offered to Cumbria was highlighted by a delegation of county council leaders, who travelled to London to press the case for more government assistance.

Council leader Rex Toft led the appeal for more help for the county's stricken economy at a meeting with rural affairs minister Alun Michael and the national rural taskforce.

He later said: "We had a long meeting with the minister before making our presentation to the task force.

This gave us an opportunity to put across out case that Cumbria is special and our problems are acute."

With the county bearing the brunt of the foot-and-mouth crisis - Cumbria has seen 43 per cent of all confirmed cases nationwide - the council wanted to

see an immediate injection of government aid.

As many as 19,000 jobs were at risk in Cumbria as a result of the outbreak, according to the latest North West Development Agency figures.

The council is particularly concerned about how businesses will cope over the winter months, with many not getting profits over the summer to sustain them through until the foot-and-mouth outbreak is over.

The delegation, which also included deputy council leader Mike Ash, chief executive Louis Victory and James Carr, chairman of the Cumbria Regeneration Task Force, called for:

l A fund offering interest-free loans aimed at helping businesses with cashflow problems to survive through the winter.

l Government money to promote tourism in the county.

Mr Michael announced at the meeting that the business rate scheme would be extended until Christmas, and offered to visit the county to show his personal interest.

It was also acknowledged that Cumbria would be exempt from the lifting of the blanket footpath ban in recognition that the county is still suffering from outbreaks of the disease.

But, the delegation was disappointed that its request for a fast track process to get funding to struggling businesses is only under review.

"We pressed very hard for a scheme to be implemented to get cash to those in need during the winter months," said Coun Toft.

"I believe we made an impression but the most we could extract from Government was an assurance they would look into it further."

l The Government has released £500,000 "on account" to Cumbria County Council after the authority protested last week that it was owed more than £2 million for helping to clean and disinfect farms hit by foot-and-mouth.

Coun Toft said he had not received formal confirmation of the payment, but added he was hoping for a "favourable" response.