THE foot and mouth crisis may be tightening its grip but Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan raised a cheer when he declared Malton open for business.
The event, which saw a ribbon draped across busy Yorkersgate and then cut, was organised to give the town a boost in the wake of the current crisis.
For the occasion TV personality Ian had composed a poem which he read out to a waiting crowd consisting mainly of bed and breakfast owners.
"Once the ribbon was cut the B&B owners threw slices of toast in the air to celebrate the reopening of the town for the summer season," said Corina Inverno, tourism officer at Ryedale District Council.
Coun Alan Farnaby, leader of the council, attended the event to give his support.
"The tourism industry is one of our biggest earners and we want to do everything possible at this time of crisis in farming and tourism caused by the foot and mouth outbreak," he said.
Updated: 09:02 Tuesday, March 27, 2001
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