A FARM has boosted its financial fortunes by transforming derelict buildings into high quality offices, a conference suite and wedding facilities.

Around £750,000 has been spent on regenerating Woollas Hall Farm at Eckington, near Pershore, to help create sustainable development.

It is one of three agricultural businesses in Worcestershire which has recently diversified with financial help from the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES).

Farmers, Mark and Caron Steele, received £66,000 to help to transform the farm's redundant Grade II listed buildings in to a thriving location incorporating 14 office spaces.

"The grant helped us to kit out our conference room with state-of-the-art facilities and without it we would have struggled to get things up and running," said Caron Steele.

"This diversification has been vital, because the value of farming produce today is the same as it was 30 years ago. There was simply not enough income to survive from farming alone."

Designed with Cotswold stone and operating as Deer Park Hall, around 9,500 square feet of office space with broadband access now sits alongside the fully functional livestock and agricultural farm.

Aberdeen Angus beef, free range Fallow Venison, sheep, wheat and beans are still among the traditional produce offered alongside its other ventures, which include clay pigeon shooting and off-roading, for conference groups.

Clive's Fruit Farm, at Upton-upon-Severn, and vegetable growers Simms & Woods of Wyre Piddle, were also visited by members of the West Midlands Regional Consultation Group, which helps to target and identify rural needs for Defra.

A grant to the fruit farm helped transform derelict buildings into a children's nursery and establish an apple juice pressing and bottling business.

Simms & Woods received help for a grading and packing centre for high quality fresh vegetables to develop their "ready to eat" range.

The RES has helped more than 100 enterprises so far, from £17.8m made available for projects throughout the West Midlands.

A total of £152m EU and Government money has been allocated to the RES until the end of 2006, as part of the England Rural Development Programme (EDRP).