FARMERS whose livestock had to be culled during the foot-and-mouth crisis have been finding out how they can restart their businesses.

More than 50 Worcestershire farmers packed into the first of a series of seminars organised by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) yesterday.

The idea is to give those directly affected by the agricultural crisis a way forward.

"These people have come to us at a turning point in their lives and this is a time when they'll be reflecting on what they'll do in the future," said Andrew Sherrott, of Defra's Rural Development Service.

"We hope that these seminars will help them think about the opportunities that are out there."

Farmers were given talks on the future direction of agriculture, getting back to farming and business advice.

There was also the chance to find out about what other avenues were open to them.

"There are strategic planners to help with diversification," said Mr Sherrott.

"We've got planning authorities here for farmers to be able to talk about meeting planning requirements."

Other representatives at the seminars, held at Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, included the National Farmers' Union, English Nature, the Forestry Commission, Environment Agency and Business Link.

"I thought it was a very good meeting and I came out with a lot of interesting facts," said Roger Yardley, whose Long More Farm, in Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, was stricken by foot-and-mouth.

"I don't know if the future's rosy or not, I'll have to talk things over at home.

"I came out with a lot to think about."

There will be events in the future based on specific issues that the farmers present felt important.

"All of the farmers coming to these seminars have had a payment from the Government," said Mr Sherrott.

"They need to know what they can do in the future, whether it's sticking with farming or doing something else."