Urgent action to safeguard the future of Essex's rural communities is being demanded after a major report has highlighted a lack of basic services.

Rural areas in Essex are blighted by limited job opportunities, poor public transport and a lack of affordable housing.

The bleak picture of country life in the county has emerged in a Countryside Agency report into the state of rural areas.

The document spotlights the serious impact of last year's Foot and Mouth epidemic - first identified at an abattoir and farm in Little Warley - which cost the region an estimated £280m.

The countryside idyll is a myth for many rural residents as only seven per cent of parishes have a bank and only 13 per cent benefit from a doctor's surgery.

Only half of rural communities have a primary school although 59 per cent enjoy a general store.

Public transport is patchy and while there has been some improvement many villages still have no daily bus service.

The study warns: "Human activity in the form of intensive agriculture, congested roads, groundwater extraction, new housing and commercial development is pacing enormous pressure on the region's rural areas and countryside."

Nick Shuttleworth, director of the Rural Community Council of Essex, said: "The Foot and Mouth crisis obviously put the whole future of the countryside right up the agenda for politicians.

"Essex was the only county in the East of England which actually had any outbreaks. So the impact here was a lot bigger than in other parts of the region.

"With large parts of the countryside being inaccessible, the indirect effect on village shops and pubs was tremendous. The overall trend in Essex is that a lot of communities seem to be losing their village stores."

But as the memories of burning pyres of slaughtered animals fade, there are fears the problems of the countryside will be forgotten.

Mr Shuttleworth stressed: "A lot of these issues such as limited job opportunities, transport problems and a lack of affordable housing are still there and have not gone away. They don't just need talking about - they need some action."

The 67-page Countryside Agency report investigates 20 different indicators of rural life.

Countryside Agency regional director Tim De-Keyzer commented: "We have some of the most beautiful countryside, small towns and villages in England. Many parts of the region are attracting increasing numbers of businesses and people. However, behind this generally positive outlook, there are still many issues that need to be tackled."

Published Wednesday January 16, 2002