Supermarket boss Sir Ken Morrison (above) today handed a £200,000 boost to farmers hit by the foot and mouth crisis.

He also pledged the Bradford-based company will pay its meat suppliers within 48 hours to further help struggling livestock farmers.

Sir Ken said the £200,000 would be given to charities nominated by the National Farmers' Union as he revealed Morrisons was Britain's fastest growing supermarket chain.

Announcing the company's annual figures, Sir Ken said takings in the year to February 4, 2001, stood at £3.77bn up 18.2 per cent, with pre-tax profits up to £219.1 million for the period, an increase of 15.8 per cent.