THE foot and mouth disease epidemic that devastated dozens of Lancashire farms two years ago may be a fading nightmare for the public but a bitter legacy lingers yet in rural areas.

There, the effects remain of the crisis that killed thousands of sheep and cattle and wrecked agriculture. Farmers are still fighting to recover and as are rural businesses of all kinds which went into free fall when the countryside became a virtual no-go area.

Now -- though, arguably, long overdue -- a giant aid package is unveiled to help rural Lancashire get over the effects of the foot and mouth plague. Spearheaded by the County Council and launched with £16million from the North West Development Agency, the Lancashire Rural Recovery Plan expects to secure an extra £50million-worth of outside investment over the next five years.

But, far-sightedly, the Plan seeks not only to put hard-hit existing agricultural and rural businesses back on their feet, it aims to strengthen the rural economy and make it less vulnerable to hard knocks in the future.

For much of the Recovery Plan will be devoted to creating new businesses, supporting new tourists attractions, helping farms diversify and to increased marketing of the county and teaching new skills.

It is just the sort of broad approach that it is needed. Rural Lancashire needs firm new foundations to ensure its future.