COMMUNITIES and businesses which suffered during the foot and mouth crisis are being invited to bid for a share of a £30,000 pot of cash aimed at helping them stage their own promotional events.

The money has been made available by the North West Development Agency and is being administered by Lancashire County Council in partnership with Enterprise Plc and the Lancashire Tourism Partnership.

Some of the cash is already being put to good use in Rossendale to lure shoppers to the area at the most lucrative time of the year.

The East Lancashire Railway group has organised a 'half price shopper' train to take people from Bury and Ramsbottom into Rawtenstall with the help of a grant from the North West Development Agency's Foot and Mouth Recovery Fund.

The train is just one of many special events run by local businesses using money secured by Lancashire County Council from the North West Development Agency's Foot and Mouth Recovery Fund.

Although the train is being run over Christmas the cash isn't just for the festive period and local organisations and businesses are being invited to find out more.

Eight events have already received funding with an average of £2,500 being awarded to each project, although grants can be as small as £250 for more local events.

Steve Partington, fund manager, said: "The aim is to help give local communities and businesses the boost they need to get people interested in their areas again.

"The foot and mouth crisis meant that our tourism industry lost some momentum. This is just one of the ways in which Lancashire's communities put themselves back on the map. "Some of the money is being put to good use over the festive period but the fund isn't just for Christmas.

"I want to urge local community organisation or business who thinks they can make use of some of the cash to get in touch with us."

To find out if your organisation qualifies for help contact Diane Parkinson or Steve Partington on 01772 819000.