Blair heckled in Lake District

On choppy water: Tony Blair takes the helm of an Ullswater cruiser

Dozens of angry farmers have greeted Tony Blair as he started a tourism-boosting visit to Cumbria, an area devastated by foot-and-mouth disease.

The prime minister was jeered and heckled by farmers holding banners and by members of the tourist industry as he arrived to open the National Mountaineering Centre near Penrith.

I know things have been very, very difficult here but I think there are some signs of hope now

Tony Blair

Mr Blair acknowledged the difficulties local people were going through because of the outbreak of the virus.

At one stage, bookings for hotels and other tourist-related businesses were down by 80% as footpaths were closed by the disease.

After a brief tour of Rheged, a Lakeland visitor centre, Mr Blair unveiled a painting of Scafell Crag to commemorate the event.

He also took a cruise on Ullswater, at one point taking the helm of the boat.

Difficult

He said: "I know things have been very, very difficult here but I think there are some signs of hope now.

"The fact is that people, when they come here, have a wonderful time.

The Blairs will spend part of their holiday in the UK

"There are so many things they can do here and as we begin to open things up more, I know more and more people will come."

Business has been hit hard in the area with a 45% fall in visitor numbers since the Spring.

At the height of the epidemic, between 70% and 80% fewer tourists than usual were predicted for July and August.

But bookings are now back to 80% of their normal levels with even more holidaymakers expected to return during the usually busy months of September and October, according to Downing Street.

Water sports

"With nearly all the High Fells open, water activities on the lakes completely unaffected and lowland paths beginning to reopen, there is a recovery," a spokesman said.

"Although foot-and-mouth is not completely eradicated and we are continuing to bear down on the disease, the prime minister wants to show his support for an area that has been one of the hardest hit, but where tourists are returning."

Mr Blair and his family will also be doing their bit for British tourism by taking part of their summer holiday in south west England.

But they will first holiday in Mexico following Mr Blair and wife Cherie's official tour of Brazil and Jamaica, which begins this weekend.

Royal visit

Meanwhile, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are also in the north of England, to visit Berwick, Alnwick, Morpeth and Ashington in Northumberland.

In Berwick, the Queen met people from 11 local firms that provide bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation whose livlihoods have been affected by foot-and-mouth.

A royal aide said she expressed sympathy for the difficulties their businesses had faced.