A FUND set up to help people recover from theeffects of the foot-and-mouth crisis was boosted by a £2,500 donation fromthe Cumberland and Westmorland Provincial Benevolent Fund.

TheCumbria Community Foundation set up the Community Recovery Fund in Aprilto help voluntary groups and individuals whose income had been severelyaffected by the effects of the disease.

Administrator DebbieYoung said that the latest donation put the fund well on its way toreaching its £1.2million target.

Already around £250,000 offunds has been allocated to help people suffering significant hardship asa result of the crisis.

Ms Young said the appeal had met witha generous response from people locally and further afield, and said shewould like to say thank you to anyone who had made adonation.

"We've really been getting money fromfar and wide, because the appeal has been on our website as well, but thegenerosity from people within Cumbria has been great aswell."

It is planned that the fund will run for the next twoor three years to help people cope with problems now and long-term effectsof the crisis, and to help promote recovery in the wake of thedisease.

To make a donation people can send cheques madepayable to the Community Recovery Fund to Unit 6B, Lakeland Business Park,Cockermouth, or call 01900-825760.

People wishing to apply forgrants should call the samenumber.