A SPECIALIST plant nursery owner has seen his long-established business fall by 90 per cent in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis.

And the boss has had to lay off part-time staff as a result.

Peter Foley of Holden Clough Nursery, near Bolton-by-Bowland, says that on some days only a couple of customers have visited the nursery.

On other occasions there has been no-one at all.

The business has been established since the 1920 and grows and sells rare and specialist plants.

"I have never known anything as grim as this.

"Last month sales were down more than 70 per cent and this month things have dropped to 90 per cent.

"The wet weather certainly has not helped, but it is the lack of visitors because of the foot and mouth epidemic in the country which is the main concern," said Mr Foley.

As well as selling plants from the nursery, Mr Foley exhibits at shows throughout the country and abroad.

But even some of these have been closed through the crisis until recently, such as Gawthorpe Hall and and other venues further down country.

And Mr Foley has had seven events cancelled where he was due to give talks.