The Oxfordshire Rural Support group is asking Parliamentary candidates in Oxfordshire for their views on the foot and mouth crisis and what measures they will implement if they are elected.

The chairman of the group, the Rev Glyn Evans, pointed out that 49 per cent of Oxfordshire's population live in rural communities.

He added that the rural economy had been severely affected by the foot and mouth crisis.

Oxfordshire Rural Support is a group which provides information, advice and support to the farming community in the county.

The Oxfordshire group is attached to the national voluntary organisation, the Rural Stress Information Network, and is also part of the South East Farming and Rural Support groups network.