STRESSED-out farmers will be able to get rural relief from a new source now a £36,000 scheme has been given the green light.

North Yorkshire County Council is to fund a full-time rural stress co-ordinator to ease farmers' concerns.

The council has backed a bid from the York-based Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC) to recruit a co-ordinator who will help farmers traumatised by foot and mouth disease.

The co-ordinator, who has been funded with Government cash, aims to provide farmers with access to information, services and welfare benefits as well as improve communication.

YRCC director Ian Strong said the co-ordinator was great news for North Yorkshire farmers.

He revealed the group was now hard at work processing applications. It is expected the co-ordinator will begin work in the New Year.

"This is an essential appointment. Farmers have been suffering for a number of years. It's something we are very concerned about," he said.

"The co-ordinator will not only provide support to farmers, but will also raise awareness of the pressures they face to others.

"We are very proud this has been approved and look forward to getting started."

A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman added: "This scheme has been approved and will help struggling farmers. A range of measures will be introduced to re-assert confidence in the agriculture and farming industry.

"We will be collaborating with a number of partners to help tackle rural stress and hope the pilot project will be a success."

A National Farmers' Union spokesman said: "We welcome this. The foot and mouth crisis has isolated rural communities and, for some, has seen farmers marooned on their farms. Obviously, farmers have suffered a tremendous amount of stress recently and we appreciate any initiative to combat this. We look forward to working with the co-ordinator."

Updated: 11:01 Saturday, November 03, 2001