It is truly the best New Year present which could have been given to this area - the declaration that Craven is officially foot and mouth free.

As National Farmers Union representative Rob Simpson says, it is great news and farmers have been waiting a long time for the positive development.

It will of course be some time yet before the situation returns to normal, if indeed that is possible. But the words of Mr Simpson should be echoed loud and clear that more than anything the announcement is a great morale boost for the industry.

It must also be good news for those other vital countryside industries, especially tourism.

International tourist centres such as Haworth have been hit by a dramatic drop in visitors due to foot and mouth, the September 11 attacks and the nonsensical fears over BSE.

Various strategies and promotional ideas have been drawn up to ensure the countryside is safely re-opened and the tourist industry can begin its recovery.

Not to put a damper on the excellent start to the year, but we should still be mindful of those who have suffered and are continuing to suffer due to the crisis.

The Dales Recovery Appeal, which still has money to give away, knows that hundreds of people are still in urgent need of help.

A difficulty they are still facing is that they believe many needy cases have gone unaided because people have been too proud or shy to apply for grants - or indeed have not come forward as they feel others are much worse off than themselves.

As further steps are taken to recover from the disaster there's still a deafening silence from the Government about a public inquiry and any lessons learned.

That need must be kept on the agenda or it could become the victim of a Railtrack-style bad news burial.