DESPITE plans to get the tourist industry back on track, some local attractions are still being crippled by the foot-and-mouth crisis and the nightmare may not be over yet.

While it is six months since the first case of foot-and-mouth (FMD) served to freeze the lifeblood of rural communities, this week more cases have been diagnosed in north east England sparking fears of a second outbreak.

Still struggling to make up lost ground, for some a repeat performance could prove the final straw.

Restriction of movement and protective measures to curb the spread of the disease have already taken a serious toll on visitor numbers and, while measures have been taken in an attempt to lure them back, the industry is still experiencing a severe cut in revenue.

Although relatively kind, the bank holiday weather has done little, it seems, to redress the situation with attractions of all kinds, from theme parks to country houses, still struggling from the knock-on effect of the disease.

Closed for six weeks at the height of the crisis, Marwell Zoo near Winchester was threatened with bankruptcy but has been kept afloat by the generosity of concerned supporters.

According to deputy director, Lynne Stafford, it costs £7,500 a day to operate the zoo whether it is open or closed and, as a result, Marwell has lost a paralysing amount of money which it is struggling to recoup.

The zoo is continuing to maintain strict FMD procedures, with disinfectant mats down at every entrance and restricted access to certain areas of the park with vulnerable animals on show but well out of touch.

Marwell is now open on a daily basis except to those from foot-and-mouth infected areas and those who are in regular contact with farm livestock.

"The response from the general public has been tremendous. People are just as protective of their own animals as we are of ours. There is raised awareness of the fact that a crisis like this can be devastating and it hasn't gone away yet," warns Mrs Stafford who reflected general concern that, while benefiting from increased local support, Marwell has been missing the large number of tourists who normally visit from outside the area.

Local hot air ballooning company Horizon Ballooning is also suffering, having been forced to weather a massive 50 per cent downturn in business as a result of the crisis.

According to proprietors, Nigel and Kay Hicks, they were grounded for four months not by the government but by the Ballooning Association who imposed a voluntary ban because balloonists rely heavily on the good will of farmers.

"As it stands, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex have been declared as provisionally safe, but with the recent resurgence of the disease seeing cases popping up where there were none before, we are very concerned.

"We have taken voluntary measures to ensure we are flying safely. We disinfect every piece of our equipment and this includes the feet of all those on board. We also refuse to fly anyone from an infected area.

"We are constantly monitoring the situation and we have strong links with local farmers and the NFU

"We always try and stay away from animals anyway, so we fly from large urban sites like Anstey Park in Alton as much as possible."

If the situation worsens Horizon Ballooning could experience its worst year since starting six years ago. "This is not helped by the fact that the ban imposed on us was a voluntary one, meaning that any compensation dished out by the government will not come anywhere near us," said Mr Hicks.

Administrator of Gilbert White's House and the Oates Museum, Anna Jackson, said that attempts to attract visitors to Selborne have not had a significant impact.

While the museum has remained open throughout, figures are definitely down despite the staging of more high profile events, such as the recent Gilbert White Day.

She believes that, rather than going to the countryside, people are travelling to the seaside where they know attractions will be open. She said that since the outbreak, which has so far not spread to Hampshire, group bookings and holidays in the area have been cancelled and this is having lasting effects.

In a further attempt to raise the museum's profile, it will be joining 25 attractions across the county who will be offering free entry on September 8 as part of a Hampshire Heritage Open Day which, it is hoped, will help kick-start the tourism economy, worth £53 million a year in East Hampshire alone.

EHDC has set aside £35,000 to fund rate reliefs for businesses hit by the effects of the FMD restrictions. Furthermore, there is still a large quantity of cash left in this fund and businesses are invited apply.

This can include public houses reliant on ramblers and manufacturers involved with the agricultural industry.

Any business interested in applying for rate relief should contact Brian Woods on 01730 234150.