A PRIEST at the centre of a community ravaged by foot and mouth is to lead a special church service in aid of those affected by the disease.

Canon Philip Dearden, parish priest of St Mary Magdalene's in Clitheroe, called on parishioners to attend the service today to show their support and raise public awareness about the crisis.

The latest outbreak of the disease has ripped through the Ribble Valley, with 10 cases confirmed in the past two weeks.

Farmers in the area are in despair and the Samaritans, who have set up a special foot and mouth hotline, say they have been very busy with calls from farmers who have been affected.

Mr Dearden, who will hold the half-hour prayer service, said: "We have held a service on a monthly basis ever since the foot and mouth crisis erupted.

"Of course, all churches have been standing by the countryside and the people who work in it week by week but this is an opportunity for the wider public to show their solidarity with everyone deeply affected and to show them that they are not forgotten.

"From the outset we have appreciated that members of the farming fraternity are isolated on their farms but as Christians we have to do all we can to show our solidarity with them, especially as time rolls on and the general public are in danger of thinking that it is all over."

Last month The Nelson Independent Methodist Chapel organised a Day of Prayer to pray for farmers throughout East Lancashire hit by foot and mouth.