|PIC1|The Farm Crisis Network (FCN) has lent its support to the farming community around Egham in Surrey, where foot and mouth disease was confirmed on another farm earlier this week.

The FCN, a network of volunteers from within the farming community and local churches, said it was working closely with local clergy and churches to support farmers in the area.

The latest incident of foot and mouth follows not long after an earlier outbreak in August, also in Surrey.

"Unfortunately, this latest outbreak comes just as farmers were recovering from the effects of the previous movement restrictions and the difficulties arising from the recent floods and bad weather," said the FCN.

Restrictions were put into place across England, Scotland and Wales on the movement of animals at risk to foot and mouth after the outbreak of foot and mouth was discovered in cattle on the Egham farm on Wednesday. The ban has since been lifted in Scotland and Wales.

"FCN is very aware that new movement restrictions across the UK will cause further hardship and problems," said the network.

The FCN, working in partnership with the Royal Agricultural Benovolent Institution (RABI) and ARC-Addington Fund, appealed to Christians to support affected farmers with prayer, adding that it was ready to give extra support to those needing help in the event of the further spread of the disease.

As churches across the UK prepare for Harvest celebrations, FCN has also produced special Harvest Festival resources and is encouraging Christians to remember farmers struggling as a result of the weather in their prayers.

"Harvest provides an opportunity to pray for the farming community, particularly this year as so many are struggling with the impact of the weather," said FCN. "Harvest is also a time to remind us all to think about the food we eat, the farmers who produce it, and of course the God who provides it, and to remember how fortunate we are in this country that even when the harvest fails we do not go hungry."

The FCN Helpline is being maintained from 7.00am - 11.00pm every day on 07002 326 326