A pensioner has donated money to help farmers hit by the foot and mouth crisis - in memory of her parents whose lives were shattered by an outbreak in 1940.

Barbara Sanders, a grandmother-of-three from Shipley, has dedicated her contribution to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Farmers Fund to her late parents Ida and Reg Jagger, whose dairy herd and pigs had to be destroyed after one of their cows contracted the virus.

She said she had been moved to help after the current crisis brought back memories of the dark days of 1940 when she was growing up on White Acre Farm at Clayton.

Mrs Sanders said: "It was a terrible experience and mum and dad lost everything.

"They'd only taken over from my granddad Herbert Jagger in 1939 and had just completely restocked when there was an outbreak of foot and mouth on a neighbouring farm.

"The vet checked our cows and they were all clear, but two weeks later dad found one of the cows slavering.

"Foot and mouth had spread to our farm, and all the cattle, as well as our pigs, had to be slaughtered.

"It was a terribly hard time for them, especially with three young children to look after, but we were allowed to keep our hens and mum sold a few eggs to keep us going.

"It was six months before they could get any new cows and they had to go into debt to restock.

"The whole thing was heartbreaking for my parents.

"What's happening today has brought it all back to me and I think they'd be very saddened by it.

"It took two years of very hard work to pull things round again financially but I know it hurt them badly and I don't think they ever really got over it emotionally.

"I wanted to help because I feel very sorry for our farmers and decided to make my donation in memory of mum and dad.''

Yorkshire Agricultural Society spokesman Judy Thompson said: "I think it's a marvellous gesture.

"Although our generation has never experienced anything like the present crisis it's struck a chord with lots of people and brought back memories of some very difficult times that farmers have had in the past.''

The fund launched by the agricultural society - organiser of the annual Great Yorkshire Show which is going ahead this year but without classes for cattle, sheep, pigs and goats - has so far generated more than £74,000 for farmers who have suffered as a result of the crisis.

Farmers wanting more information about assistance from the fund should contact Chris Andrews on 01845 577326.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a cheque, payable to the YAS Farmers Fund, to Nigel Pulling, Head of Finance, Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8PW, or call 01423 541000.