The driving force behind Basildon Zoo has demanded a Government rescue package to bail out the tourism industry over the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Yolande Surcouf spoke out after losing out on thousands of pounds of trade after the zoo closed for six weeks as the epidemic gripped the country.

Ms Surcouf, who runs the zoo in London Road, Vange, said the Government should be looking out for the small businesses which rely on tourism to survive rather than farmers.

She said today (Wednesday): "Farmers already receive money for their animals in subsidies from the Government and the European Union. Everybody keeps going on about the farmers but what about everyone else?

"What about the tea shop owners and the bed and breakfasts in the countryside? People are not going to these places and people are losing a lot of money.

"There is a small cafe in the zoo which we let out. I don't know how much they have lost but it must have been quite a bit."

The zoo has only just opened after having to close for six weeks and Yolande believes she could have lost thousands of pounds in revenue.

"It costs £1,500 a week to run the zoo and it is very difficult when there is no money coming in," she commented.

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