ONE of Wyre Forest's premier tourist attractions has been losing a "small fortune" as it struggles to come to terms with the effects of the foot and mouth crisis.

Bodenham Arboretum, Wolverley - which should have been opening seven days a week starting last Saturday - is closed to the public, although not infected by the disease.

Eighteen part-time staff have been laid off at the site, which features a farm and underground earth centre and it is losing thousands of pounds.

David Binnian, who with his wife Jennifer owns what has become Wyre Forest's most popular tourist attraction behind the SVR and West Midland Safari Park, was fuming at the Government's "atrocious" handling of the situation.

"We just don't know what's going on," he said.

"On one hand the Government is telling everyone the countryside is open for business and then the people from MAFF are saying people can't walk within 100 metres of livestock.

"I clearly remember the last outbreak in 1967 and the Government hasn't learnt any lessons from it. They are dithering."

Mrs Binnian said the business was growing and many bookings had been taken for the coming season.

Closure means the arboretum is losing £1,000 at weekends and would stand to lose as much as £4,000 a week if closed during May.

But she was hopeful the arboretum would be able to open in a restricted capacity on April 14, when sheep and cattle will be isolated on a different area of the farm, and that the staff - mostly retired people - would be able to return.

But Mr Binnian said he foresaw "a great number of bankruptcies up and down the country" among businesses such as his own as a result of enforced closures due to the foot and mouth crisis.

"I've heard nothing from the Government about financial assistance or relief - not a whisper," he added.