GRANTS of up to £15,000 are being offered to help businesses in East Lancashire hit by the financial impact of foot and mouth disease.

Business Link East Lancashire is spearheading a recovery campaign for small firms, particularly those in rural areas.

And in addition to grant aid, the business support agency is offering practical advice and consultancy to help companies back into profit.

The money is from the Rural Business Recovery Fund, administered by the North West Development Agency on behalf of Europe.

The aid is aimed at businesses with 50 or fewer employees where sales have been hit as a result of the foot and mouth epidemic.

Priority business sectors are tourism, including hotels and catering, agricultural services and retain.

Phil Burgess, chief executive of Business Link East Lancashire, said the main areas for financial assistance were marketing, information technology, training and a contribution towards interest on commercial loans taken out to finance restructuring or recovery.

"Many people in the area have felt the impact of the foot and mouth epidemic on their businesses," he said.

"Now, with the Rural Recovery Fund, we are able to give real practical and financial assistance to help aid recovery."

Business Link is promising that decisions on grants will take around two weeks after application.

The closing date for applications is September 30.

"The sooner a business enquires, the sooner we can help get the recovery plan into action," added Mr Burgess.

Any business in East Lancashire that has suffered because of the epidemic should contact Business Link, Telephone Freephone 0800 696 696, to find out more on grants and business assistance.

There have been no new cases of foot and mouth in Lancashire for several weeks, but DEFRA vets have identified a new case at a farm in Abram, Wigan.

A total of 46 cattle had to be destroyed on Tuesday.