RURAL retailers could find themselves back on the business track with a new range of courses cooked up to help them overcome the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Holme Lacy College's scheme caters for both new and established firms in the countryside.

Enterprising students at the Herefordshire campus can roll up their sleeves for Coffee Shop Management courses starting next month and again in March.

Budding caterers will learn how to design menus and cost recipes. They will also be taught food safety legislation and customer service skills.

In addition, the BBC's Holly Jones has promised a half-day course entitled Organic or not...?

The website cookery guru will show B&B and caf chefs how to find the best of Herefordshire's seasonal produce in November and May.

In addition, four day-long sessions will be held in October, February, April and June showing students how to use regional produce and where to buy it.

A Farm Shop and Rural Retailers Workshop is planned, run by the management specialist who has overseen the National Trust's catering in the West Midlands.

On the back of this, college bosses have been working with Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Teme Valley farmers' market organisers to develop a website under the Rural Enterprise Development Initiative.

Charlotte Gibb, head of training services, said the REDI project, sponsored by Advantage West Midlands, had subsidised training and seen IT courses run in village halls across the region.

"IT training put us in contact with a lot of rural businesses," she said.

"We met many established businesses who need to develop and grow, and in the wake of foot-and-mouth this has become more pertinent.

"They are seeking guidance to maximise their opportunities - they need to be addressing issues such as food hygiene, labelling and pricing and health and safety, as well as marketing.

"The courses are a perfect example of a need being identified and met to help rural recovery in the two counties."

More details on the courses are available on 01432 870316.