FARMERS devastated by foot and mouth disease have been offered help by the Samaritans.

The group launched a campaign after receiving an increase in calls from people affected by the outbreak, which has seen more than a dozen confirmed cases in Lancashire.

Every branch in East Lancashire will take part in the Emergency Rural Stress Campaign throughout the summer month.

It aims to make sure nobody has to cope with the consequences of the disease alone.

They have sent a letter to every farmer in the county to offer their support, as well as working alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and the Lancashire Young Farmers' Association.

John Killip, spokesman for the Samaritans in Blackburn, said: "If they need us we are here for them. There has been a notable increase from from members of the farming community.

"We have also had an increase in calls from farmers who are worried about what will happen in the future.

"The thing is that at this moment in time it is affecting people simply because people think they cannot get out into the country at Easter.

"The farmers' lives will change dramatically in the next few months. This has devastated their lives. There will be lots of support systems for them. "It is like when somebody dies: up to the funeral friends come round but four or five months on, that is the time when you need support. We want to put it out for the farmers that we are around." Jackie Wilkinson, director of caller services, said; "It is inevitable that at some point the media spotlight will move on.

"This campaign will run for many months so that people know that at whatever stage and however they're affected that it is important to seek help."

Samaritans' contact numbers: Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale and Nelson: 01282 694929; Blackburn 01254 662424; national number: 0845 7909090

Textphone calls (for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired only): 0845 7909192.