A TOP-level task force charged with helping Lancashire recover in the aftermath of foot and mouth disease, will be headed by a Pendle man.

Colne county councillor Tim Ormrod has been appointed chairman of the Lancashire Network which provides on-the-phone advice to anyone affected by the disease.

He will also head the Task Force team which will assess the damage done by foot and mouth county-wide and draw up a Recovery Strategy to bring relief to businesses which have suffered.

Said CC Ormrod: "There is real evidence that farming, tourism have been badly affected.

"It is estimated that outside Blackpool, bookings at hotels and guest houses alone are down by 50 per cent since the outbreak began.

"The cost in this area of activity alone is estimated to be £150million a year."

The Task Force -- expected to include commerce, farming, health, tourism county and development chiefs -- will meet for he first time next week and set about drawing up an accurate picture of just who has suffered from he foot and mouth outbreak.