EAST Lancashire farmers who lost their animals in the foot and mouth crisis have been invited to a seminar to consider their future.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is holding the conference at Myersclough College, in Bilsborrow, near Preston tomorrow.

Thirty seven farms in East Lancashire have been hit by foot and mouth since the county's first outbreak in February.

The event is aimed at helping businesses as they recover from the outbreak.

Tony Percival, north west regional manager of DEFRA's Rural Development Service, said: "The foot and mouth outbreak has hit parts of the Lancashire livestock industry very hard.

"The seminar will give DEFRA an opportunity, along with partner organisations, to explain to farmers what help is available and the options there are for their businesses when they come to restock."

The seminar is being backed up by a programme of free business advice, organised through the Farm Business Advice Service.