STARTING a new rural business at the height of the foot and mouth crisis sweeping through the Ribble Valley does not show the best of timing.

But for Simon Barnes, it is a gesture of faith in the future of rural life and a challenge to fulfil an ambition to go it alone on the family farm at Bashall Town just two miles outside Clitheroe.

Following 18 months of planning, Bashall Barn has opened as a specialist food and craft shop after a £100,000 investment programme to transformed the 250-year-old farm building.

"We thought long and hard before opening," said Simon. "But we concluded there was no risk to the animals whatsoever.

"There are very few tourists at the moment. A lot of people are cancelling holidays and there is a knock-on effect throughout the whole community. Even friends in Clitheroe question whether it is fair to the farming community to come out to the shop."

While disinfectant-laced mats guarding the shop car parks remain a reminder of the epidemic, Simon is sure diversification will have a big role to play within the rural economy.

And even though foot and mouth has kept visitors away, Simon, 33, is convinced he has made the right career choice.

"When I wake up in the morning, I can look out at the wonderful Ribble Valley landscape," said Simon, who turned down a career in the automotive industry to return to his roots. "When I was working in the North East, I looked out on to a busy road in Bishop Auckland. Here the kids can play on their swings - the difference is so huge you cannot measure it."

The Barnes family has run the 800-acre farm for the past 30 years. Brother David concentrates on the dairy herd while Simon develops the farm shop.

The family has been thinking of diversifying the business for the past five years and had looked at several options before deciding on the farm shop.

Eighteen months ago, Simon gave up his job as an account manager selling heating and ventilation systems to Nissan to return to the Ribble Valley.

Despite foot and mouth, Bashall Barn is building a reputation for quality of products predominantly from local suppliers.

The biscuits come from Whalley, egg and milk from a local farmer, yoghurts from Longridge, meat from Bleasdale, ice cream from Cockerham and herbs and spices from Long Preston.

"It makes sense to support the local economy," said Simon, who has already taken on three full and part-time members of staff. "Other similar ventures we have looked at employ as many as 30 people which has got to be good for the area."

Bashall Barn is also supporting the local craft industry. Exhibitors include Jenny Cork Glass, Manzoni Studio from Waddington and Cheeky Monkey Candles, produced on the neighbouring farm. Rural chairs are also produced by local craftsman Richard Atton, using wood harvested as part of the farm's hedging scheme.

Simon is already busy with the next stage of his plan to turn Bashall Barn into a busy tourist attraction. Construction work to create a cafe will begin in January and he is considering other initiatives to encourage visitors such as creating a maze within a field of maize.