THE Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis travelled to Yorkshire this week to speak to farmers severely affected by the recent floods.

And while talking to hard-hit farmers at the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate, the bishop had at the back of his mind the extent of damage caused in his own diocese, including the reported loss of 125 acres of potatoes by one farmer in Herefordshire and the loss of two-thirds of his potato crop by one smallholder in Shropshire.

The bishop was visiting Yorkshire in his capacity as the chair of of the Church of England's panel of rural bishops and was able to inform farmers of help available through the ARC-Addington Fund.

Speaking yesterday (Wednesday), the Bishop of Hereford said: "We have re-activated the fund to help farmers suffering as a result of the horrific floods.

"I'm delighted that the churches can once more help in this way where help is urgently needed.

"All of us need to do the utmost to support the farming community, upon whom we rely so much."

The fund, which was launched in 2001 to help those farmers who were affected by the foot and mouth crisis, is specifically aimed at those farmers who are facing hardship as a result of having their crops or livestock ruined by the floods.

The ARC-Addington Fund will provide a package of pastoral support and hardship payments to any farmers who have been adversely affected by the recent floods.