WEST Somerset District Council is preparing to go-it-alone yet again in its continuing bid to help businesses affected by the foot and mouth crisis.

At Monday's cabinet meeting, councillors will be asked to extend the rate relief hardship scheme for a further two months if the Government fails to extend it on a national level.

The district council has already been praised on all sides for its reaction to the foot and mouth outbreak and can be credited with helping to bring more than £1 million in aid to the area.

Council leader Steven Pugsley said: "We will continue to keep a close eye on the foot and mouth situation while refining our own schemes and lobbying other organisations.

"The lobbying aspect, while a little slow at first, is now starting to come to fruition and it is very heartening to see that the efforts of the council, together with our partners, has resulted in this impressive total."

Assistance already provided to businesses as a direct result of council initiatives, including additional advertising, hardship relief, an interest-free loans fund, setting up a vehicle wash facility and delaying an increase in car parking charges all amounts to £373,000.

On top of that, lobbying of other organisations has resulted in £640,000 being given to West Somerset by the EU, South West Tourism, #Business Link Somerset, the Devon and Exmoor Plan and Somerset County Council.

In addition, council staff time and resources have also been ploughed into steering the area through the crisis.

Chief executive Tim Howes said: "The council will continue with its efforts to help businesses out of this current situation and is carefully targeting area where the funds will be most useful, both for immediate relief and for investing in the future.

"I would like to thank the staff of the district council for their hard work and initiatives throughout the foot and mouth situation."