THE region's shoppers have been more supportive of farmers since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a survey has shown.

Almost two thirds of people interviewed nationwide said they now felt very sympathetic to farmers compared to when the crisis began.

The poll showed that the origins of meat had become more important to UK customers since the outbreak of the disease.

Supermarket chain Waitrose, which has a branch in Malvern, commissioned the survey in which more than 500 people were interviewed.

Figures showed 53 per cent of those questioned felt it was important to them where the meat they bought had come from, compared with 48 per cent before the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

The study showed that 63 per cent of respondents felt "very sympathetic" towards farmers compared with 43 per cent at the time of the BSE crisis.

"Foot-and-mouth has increased awareness of rural issues and placed farming firmly on the public agenda," said Steven Esom, director of buying for Waitrose.

Gala is called off

FOOT-and-mouth has put paid to Bromyard Gala, it emerged today.

Organisers of the popular Herefordshire countryside show and steam rally have apologised to the dozens of exhibitors and traders who planned to set up shop on Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8.

But they hope the thousands of visitors who flock year-on-year to the show will still support the football and rounders tournaments, quiz night and whist drive all planned for Gala week.

A mammoth car boot sale could also be staged later in the year.

"The Gala committee reluctantly came to the unanimous decision that the Gala would have to be cancelled this year due to the foot-and-mouth epidemic," a spokesman said.

"We felt this would be the responsible and sensitive course of action to take in view of all the issues involved, situated as we are in the middle of a mainly farming community."

The news came as a blow to new chairman Liz Huffer and her vice-chairman Ian Skyrm who had hoped for a bumper year.