THE foot and mouth mass slaughter, funeral pyres and heaped animal carcasses have massive repercussions.

The countryside has lost herds of deer and alpacas, rare breeds of sheep and cattle, hundreds of thousands of healthy animals, countless small farms and its most magnetic asset for tourism -- an atmosphere of tranquility.

The rural economy has lost the summer tourist season and with it the employment of hotel and catering staff, village and market town shops and cafes, farriers, outdoor activity centres and innumerable related suppliers and services.

Tomorrow is a national day of mourning for the loss of the countryside. Please show your support for those affected by this tragedy by wearing black that day.

A GRIFFIN, Stable Close, Gisburn, Clitheroe.