New figures reveal the full impact of last year's foot and mouth crisis on businesses.

More than a quarter of hotel and catering firms across the UK lost upwards of £50,000 in the second half of the year as a direct result of the outbreak.

The disease decimated several farms in the Silsden Moor and Bradley areas, where over 1,000 sheep and cattle were slaughtered.

And some local businesses and tourist attractions felt the impact of a drop in visitor numbers.

In a survey carried out by Lloyds TSB Commercial, 72 per cent of hoteliers and caterers said foot and mouth had hit trade. And 27 per cent incurred financial losses exceeding £50,000.

Nine per cent of all UK companies believed the crisis had impacted significantly on their business.

Geoff Hall, regional agricultural manager with Lloyds TSB, said: "This month marks the first anniversary of foot and mouth disease returning to Britain, and for many businesses it has been a year they would rather forget.

"These results show that the suffering caused by foot and mouth during 2001 reached far beyond agricultural businesses. Hoteliers and caterers were hard hit too and they will be hoping for a rush of bookings from holidaymakers and leisure seekers keen to return to the countryside in 2002."