WARRINGTON Chamber of Commerce has entered the fray in the foot-and-mouth crisis, calling for more Government aid for rural businesses.

Chamber chief executive Colin Daniels said: "The Countryside Agency has estimated that the cost to tourism alone could amount to £2.6 billion by Easter and the figure could reach £9 billion for the whole year. We believe that the mandatory rate relief proposed by the Government for small rural shops and pubs should be extended to other rural businesses and the percentage increased to 90 per cent during the present emergency."