A £10,000 boost to help Mid Sussex businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis has been proposed.

Mid Sussex District Council hopes to set up the hardship fund following guidance from the Department of the Environment, which suggested help could take the form of deferment of rates payments, discretionary rate relief and an extended deadline for non-domestic rate appeals.

Now the council is proposing to set up an initial budget of £10,000, transferred from £152,000 of unallocated funds for 2000/01, to cover its share of the discretionary rate relief.

This would enable rate relief between £40,000 and £200,000 to be granted.

The figure is due to be agreed by Mid Sussex Council's resources Committee on Wednesday.

Councillor Christopher Snowling said: "Being a largely rural district, this is an issue that is very close to many people in the area."

Businesses that have been hit by the restrictions on access to the countryside or any foot-and-mouth related problems should ring 01444 477309 for advice and an application form.