The full impact of foot and mouth on the region's economy has been revealed in a new report.

The outbreak -- which led to the slaughter of over 1,000 animals in the Silsden and Bradley areas alone -- cost the region a staggering £250 million.

Around half that amount was lost through a dramatic drop in tourism, according to the report.

The document -- produced by the Yorkshire and Humber Countryside Agency -- said there was a fall in overseas visitors, while British people turned their spending towards urban and seaside breaks and the high street.

Local tourist draws hit by the crisis included Haworth's world-famous Bront Parsonage Museum, which saw a slump in visitor numbers. Early estimates indicate that the literary shrine attracted around 70,000 people in 2001, down by some 6,500 on the previous year.

Most marked is the drop in visitors from abroad, especially from America and Japan, which traditionally account for the biggest slice of the overseas trade.

Museum manager Alan Bentley felt that various factors -- including the foot and mouth crisis, fears over BSE and the September 11 terrorist atrocity -- had all contributed to the fall.

He said: "It is difficult to monitor the precise effects on visitor numbers, for example of the foot and mouth situation, but there is no doubt it and other events this year have had an impact.

"The September 11 attacks clearly affected the number of tourists coming from the States -- we had two parties cancel that month, although one did re-book -- but the number of American visitors generally during the year had been down anyway.

"Also we have not seen the usual volume of Japanese tourists, who tend to be quite big spenders in the museum shop.

"The foot and mouth situation and concerns about BSE I think have deterred them, plus currency exchange rates were not good."

But despite the falling figures, Mr Bentley is optimistic about 2002.

He said the museum had plans to develop its provision, and the Yorkshire Tourist Board and Bront Country Partnership had various promotional initiatives for the area in the pipeline.

He added: "We are looking to develop events for local people, who are the core to our business.

"Also we will be seeking to make more of the fact that things change each year at the Parsonage -- we do not stand still," said Mr Bentley.

While foot and mouth has had an adverse impact on the Parsonage, some local tourist attractions have seen an upturn in visitors, at least partly attributable to the effects of the outbreak.

East Riddlesden Hall -- a National Trust site -- saw its visitor total increase last year to almost 25,000, despite losing a fortnight's trade at the start of the season because of foot and mouth restrictions.

Property manager Ana Chylak said: "Due to the fact that much of the Dales was virtually closed, a lot of groups came to us instead.

"Also we had a good year for weddings and other functions, plus we had new features such as the play area."

Cliffe Castle Museum, in Keighley, had also enjoyed a good year, said curator Alison Armstrong.

She said: "We had an especially good summer, despite fine weather which normally works against us.

"Foot and mouth probably helped museums like ours, because people who would usually walk their dogs on the local moors or go up the Dales came here.

"Also a lot of our visitors are local people anyway, and repeat visitors."