WYRE Forest farmers were among more than 50 from across the county getting advice on how to recover from the foot and mouth disease crisis.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs held a seminar in Bromsgrove offering farming and business advice on Monday.

Planners were on hand to talk to about diversification and other avenues open to them.

DEFRA spokesman Andrew Sherrott said: "All of the farmers have had a payment from the Government. They need to know what they can do in the future, whether it's sticking with farming or doing something else."

Roger Yardley, whose Longmore Farm in Chadd-esley Corbett was one of those at the centre of the Wyre Forest outbreak, said the meeting equipped him with "a lot of interesting facts".

"I don't know if the future is rosy or not - I'll have to talk things over at home. I came out with a lot to think about," he added.