Marsh Farm is to be restocked from the new year in an effort to prepare it for the spring tourist season, council leaders have announced.

Essex County Council had suggested it was unlikely to reintroduce animals to the popular South Woodham venue until April but the move has been brought forward.

It comes as the council's cabinet took the controversial decision to hike entrance fees - some by 50 per cent - to bring extra revenue into the attraction, devastated earlier in the year by foot-and-mouth.

The county council is set to spend nearly £100,000 supporting Marsh Farm through the crisis, despite Government compensation.

So far, up to £134,000 in visitor fees have been lost.

Tracey Chapman, cabinet member for environment, said restocking and rising prices were vital ways of getting the farm back on its feet.

Nearly 1,000 of the farm's stock were killed after the disease was detected in March but staff have been impatient to restock again.

The site is closed for its annual winter break and is due to reopen in February.

Published Tuesday December 18, 2001