LOW unemployment figures do not mean the Malvern Hills district has escaped the worst effects of foot and mouth, councillors have been warned.

The idea that recent figures for Malvern Hills and Wychavon dispelled forecasts of huge deprivation was raised during a meeting of Worcestershire County Coun-cil's executive committee.

But Sue Smith, the county's economic strategy and regeneration manager, has warned that such statistics are seasonal and the full effect of the disease on the economy might not yet have been seen.

She said: "Winter is the quiet period for tourist businesses, and I think we could see a lot more problems start to emerge. Malvern is heavily dependent on tourism.

"We should not underestimate the devastation that has been caused, both in terms of the economy, and in terms of morale in rural communities."

The county council is to unveil a raft of strategies to combat the effects of the outbreak on Dec-ember 6.

It will be seeking to gain support from district councils, local agencies and other organisations for its "Recovery Plan".

The plan includes measures to promote tourism, market local agricultural produce and encourage diversification on the county's farms. More long-term goals, such as the encouragement of high-tech industries in the area in order to lower its dependence on farming, will also be put forward.

According to latest figures released by the Benefits Agency the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the Malvern Hills area fell by 8.5 per cent in September.

Numbers were down by 40 to 428 on the previous month and 114 down on the same time last year.

The area has the second lowest unemployment rate in the West Midlands after Evesham.