A FORMER dairy farmer who converted his outbuildings into workshops has provided a major jobs boost for the rural economy.

With the help of a Rural Lancashire Development Grant, Richard Drinkall, 44, changed the face of Backridge Farm, Waddington, and scaled down his farming business in the process.

When the farm was at its peak Mr Drinkall was milking 130 dairy cows and also rearing beef cattle and sheep. He was also a cattle trader, buying and selling at auctions throughout the north of England. But when he grew uncertain about the financial future that agriculture could provide he decided to change the direction of his business.

He said: "The foot and mouth of 2001 and BSE crises crippled the trading side and with the milk price dropping I began to think that farming wasn't sustainable.

"As it happened I knew someone who was making candles in their kitchen and I said that I had some buildings I could convert if they wanted to use them."

Backridge Rural Workshops now has 18 businesses on site employing 38 people, and in light of the recent foot and mouth outbreaks that have blighted UK farming, Mr Drinkall believes he made the right move.

"It wasn't an absolute choice because I enjoyed farming but it's proving to be a good move because farming was a hell of a struggle and I don't see much light at the end of the tunnel right now," he said.

"There used to be two people working on the farming and now it's like we have a little village.

"We have planning permission to convert another two building and intend to put up a cafe to meet the demand of people coming down here."

Mr Drinkall first got the idea in 2001 and in recent years the workshops have really expanded.

And while he still has 80 beef cattle on the farm, the bulk of the business is the workshops which house companies such as a beautician, furniture makers, toy shop and hairdressers.

County councillor Niki Penney said she was impressed with the conversion of the redundant buildings.

"This is fantastic news for Lancashire business and the Lancashire rural economy.

"Everybody benefits here, buildings that were previously derelict are put back into use and businesses are allowed to expand as a result of this," she added.