A REDDITCH farming family hit by the foot and mouth crisis has been forced to sell their home and land to pay off debts, writes Becky Procter.

The Cookes, of Astwood Farm, had livestock culled and buried after the disease was confirmed back in March.

A newly opened £80,000 farm shop was forced to shut, a caravan storage area was closed and the Cookes were devastated.

A few weeks ago, restrictions on entering and leaving the Astwood Lane farm were lifted but the business has been left in ruins.

Mother-of-three Vanda Cookes said: "We'll never be able to open the farm shop again and we are now living in a mobile home on the farm.

"We had to sell the farmhouse and most of the land to pay off all the debts."

The Cookes were forced to agree to a voluntary arrangement with their creditors until their assets were sold off.

The Cookes' children, aged 16, 14 and seven, have also suffered.

The family is hoping a recent planning application to change some farm buildings into housing will be approved and help ease the situation.

Mrs Cookes said despite the trauma, she remained positive for the future regarding the outcome of the planning application.

The outline plans are expected to be heard by the council at the end of January.