The owners of a village tearoom face financial ruin after their business was closed because of foot-and-mouth fears.

Stanmer Village Tearoom has been shut since February when the area was ruled out of bounds in a bid to contain the disease.

The tearooms were a popular resting place for the thousands of people who normally visit the park.

The owners, Iris Forbes and her business partner Alan Wootton, could lose up to £100,000 after only buying the business at the start of the year.

This is a shocking example of how businesses have been torn apart by the foot-and-mouth outbreak which has closed countless attractions and paths.

Through no fault of their own, they find themselves on the brink of financial collapse because of restrictions.

It is high time that someone took responsibility for the large amount of businesses facing oblivion rather than allowing people go to the wall.

There has been a lot of concern and sympathy shown whenever we see animals being burned.

But what has been underestimated is the number of traders, many with children and mortgages to look after, who have been driven out of business because of it.

Surely the Government can do more to help victims such as Iris and Alan.