THE Prime Minister's countryside tsar is calling for urgent action to tackle the dire state of hill farming, especially in the lake District.

Government-appointed Rural Advocate Dr Stuart Burgess wants to see the creation of a commission to investigate the plight of the industry following last year's outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, Bluetongue and severe flooding.

In his second report to the premier, Dr Burgess said he had discovered farmers were "increasingly stretched" as they worked longer hours in a bid to survive.

They were also reducing farm maintenance, spending less time with their families and taking on other work to earn an income.

To research his annual report on the state of rural communities, Dr Burgess travelled the country, speaking to people living and working in some of the remotest areas.

Now he wants to see a Commission for the Future of Hill Farming established to address a wide range of farmers' concerns, including the reluctance of many sons and daughters to keep family farms going. It would also look at how areas of the industry could be managed to deliver the benefits that society wanted, such as well-maintained landscapes, stone walls and paths to attract tourists to rural areas.

For story in full, see the March 7 edition of The Westmorland Gazette.