EASTBY'S Mason's Arms newest proprietors hadn't even unpacked their bags when foot and mouth first struck the nation on February 19 2001.

Phil Lowther and Carole Wreford had moved up from Windsor just three days before the first outbreak and saw all their plans disintegrate.

In order to survive, the couple relied on the savings they hoped to use to breathe new life into the inn. Indeed the next 18 months were to stretch their resolve to the limit.

The fact the business was so new meant they were not entitled to benefits and had to struggle on without financial help. "It was the worst thing which could have happened," explained Yorkshire-born Phil.

Initially, Phil had intended to run the bar, while Carole looked after the family and concentrated on the housekeeping. They planned to employ a chef to produce a range of culinary delights.

But the need to conserve cash meant the chef had to go and Carole was thrown into preparing the food. A few gratefully received tips from locals already in the food trade helped her create a fairly balanced menu.

Last year the pub became one of the first in Yorkshire to become an information technology centre through UK On-line.

Four computer terminals connected to the internet provide the vehicle for people to carry out school work, general internet inquiries, business work and even shopping.

There are also word processing, scanning and printing facilities. Computer courses in all aspects of IT are run on Mondays and Thursdays and the terminals are available free for community use whenever the pub is open.

In the future, Skipton-based Tyro Training is looking to make the pub an outpost for further training and business courses.

Despite the trauma of foot and mouth, the couple have settled in well, making many new friends and have drawn on the pub's historic past to create fun opportunities.

Hallowe'en saw Carole (complete with steed) dressing up as Trooper Mason, a local Imperial Yeomanry conscript who fought in the Boer War. On the eve of his departure he etched his name and number into a pane of glass in the tap room window.

But war left him disturbed and he took his life in the Spindle Mill Dam, at Embsay.

His enraged father learned of the "shameful act" and offered 10 pounds to anyone who would smash the etched pane of glass. Trooper Mason was held in such high esteem that the window remains intact today.

As well as a legend, the pub has inherited the domino team from the Tarn House Hotel, at Stirton, which closed down recently, and hopes are high that they will do well in the Skipton league.

It is hoped also to employ a chef soon to run the food side, thus giving the family a chance to run the inn as they originally intended.

"It's only been in the recent months that we have been able to really start to look forward and feel that we would be able to afford to stay," explained Carole.