A financial crisis is threatening to engulf tourist attractions across the Bradford district.

As visitors continue to stay away from the countryside and some of the outlying attractions, businesses fear that if the foot and mouth crisis does not end soon they will be left in ruins.

Two businesses have been left in limbo ever since the crisis first emerged in the countryside.

The City Farm at Girlington and St Leonard's Farm Park in Esholt village are both shut to the public - and neither can see when they will be able to open again.

St Leonard's Farm Park is normally closed in November and December and re-opens in January but the trauma in the countryside means it hasn't had a visitor since Christmas.

The farm has a collection of beef cows, sheep, goats, pigs and even a wallaby. All are vulnerable to the disease.

Denise Wainhouse, who is a partner at the farm, fully understands the need for closure but is worried about the financial future of the attraction.

"It's the best way to contain the disease and secondly to safeguard our own animals. If we opened we have no way of controlling where people are coming from," she said.

"The disease is closing in and we are trying to keep going as best we can."

She also said there can be no guarantees that the farm would re-open to the public until a Government decision was made.

"It's very, very hard. We have got no income and two small children. If we could open in July or August we'd be happy, we'd be able to recoup a little bit of money to keep us going."

The City Farm is facing similar problems. It has been closed since the first outbreak and is losing £1,000 a month based on last year's figures. A spokesman for the farm echoed the views of those of St Leonard's.

"How much after this month we can cope is another matter. At present we can't take our animals out to fundraising events or go to attractions which normally helps our finances."

Other tourist attractions are struggling to cope with the effects of foot and mouth. Beauty spots close to urban centres have witnessed a sharp drop in visitor numbers over recent months.

Mike Leak, who is proprietor of Shipley Glen Tramways, said: "For the whole of March we were 80 per cent down on visitor numbers, compared with the same period last year. We were 75 per cent down on gross takings.

"We are not by ourselves in this predicament and what has to be done has to be done. Let's just hope it clears up quickly.

"At the moment I've enough money to pay this week's bills. It has been a very bad month and we just hope that it doesn't go on too long. If it does it will really affect us."

East Riddlesden Hall at Keighley was supposed to open last weekend but because the grounds hold roaming animals it is presently closed to the public. Otley Chevin Park is also closed.

Urban tourist attractions are coping with the crisis but are urging the public to visit and not to presume that they are closed.

Carolyn Spencer, marketing manager for the Bronte Parsonage Museum, said: "In the first week of the outbreak, we did notice a drop but we are now getting a different type of visitor than we would otherwise get, for example, people who go walking but have nowhere else to go.

"We are just a bit concerned because some groups are ringing up to cancel."

Attractions in Skipton, such as the Skipton Castle and the Craven Museum are open as is Cliffe Castle and the Worth Valley Railway in Keighley.

As a consequence to the drop in visitors to some areas, hotels and pubs are finding numbers of customers and profits are down.

"We have lost a lot of walkers. Walkers provide the majority of the Sunday liquor trade and we are losing a lot of our weekend profits," said Alan Johnson, landlord of the Black Bull in Haworth.

Hotels in Ilkley are even more concerned. "We expect a lull after Christmas and then for a pick up in business around this time of year," said Verity Garlick, of The Crescent Hotel. "However we have had cancellations because of the outbreak."

And Sue Spedding, manager of the Cow and Calf Hotel, said: "Easter weekend bookings are down. We are still getting our regulars, but the additional business that we rely on is not there."

The hotel is positioned next to the Cow and Calf Rocks which are closed because of the outbreak as is the surrounding moor land and car park.

Settle town councillor Ronald Maude is aware of the problem that foot and mouth is causing and feels strongly that a drop in the numbers of visitors in Settle and other areas will lead to economic hardship for communities in the region.

"In this time of crisis we should all be pulling together to both support our farmers and local economies. Support now will help safeguard the future viability of local businesses.

Small market towns like Settle rely heavily on tourist trade and it is essential that tourists realise it is safe to come and a warm welcome awaits them."