A TOURISM business which was shut for six months last year when foot and mouth struck the area is one of the first B&Bs in the country to be approved under new disability standards.

Jenny and John King, of Higher Cadham Farm, Jacobstowe, have opened their business up to a new sector of visitors in an area desperately short of accommodation for people with disabilities.

The two disabled rooms with a special carer's room were officially opened on Thursday, a day after the Kings were awarded a category two mobility standard by the English Tourism Council.

This new string to the bow of the 26-year-old B&B and restaurant business was planned before the foot and mouth crisis but was delayed because of it.

The couple have spent £30,000 transforming the former camping barn into the new facilities with help from funds from the Objective 5B farm revitalisation scheme.

Higher Cadham has also received £15,000 from the Regional Development Agency's South West Emergency Fund post-foot and mouth which has provided a children's play area, a new pets corner, a dishwasher, computer with internet facilities, and paid for extra marketing.

Twenty staff were laid off and the business lost around £100,000 in 2001. The farm was labelled as a 'dangerous contact' premises and all 500 sheep, two goats and two pot-bellied pigs had to be slaughtered.

Mrs King said she and her husband, whose family have farmed for three generations at Higher Cadham, cried as much as everybody else when the animals were killed but she tried not to dwell on what had happened.

'People have been very sympathetic, but I do not want to go on about it to the customers because we have to move forward.'

With a pets corner which now boasts two miniature ponies, guinea pigs and rabbits, two aviaries and, hopefully, soon some goats, Higher Cadham is catering for all ages and interests.

The owners said the internet and e-mail facilities have been invaluable with enquiries from as far afield as Alaska, Australia and Japan and bookings for this season are looking good.

'We are quite optimistic for the season ahead and with the disabled facilities we hope to broaden our appeal,' added Mrs King.

'We have responded to demand because Okehampton Tourist Information Centre receives lots of enquiries about disabled accommodation.'

West Devon Borough Council's tourism officer Nadine Trout said there were very few facilities for the disabled in the borough and there was a growing demand for this type of accommodation.

'What is particularly lovely about the rooms at Higher Cadham Farm is that they are of such a high standard and many of the items are sourced locally.

'I believe it is going to be a big benefit for business in the area.'

The opening of the new rooms coincided with National Cream Tea week in which Higher Cadham Farm was taking part to promote farm businesses in Devon and raise money for charity.

The Kings' proceeds were split between RABI — the Rural Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which helped them out during the foot and mouth crisis — and Devon Air Ambulance.

Cream tea days were also held at Jo Down's Little Bidlake, Bridestowe, where £400 was raised thanks to many visitors, among them members of Inwardleigh WI. The money will help the air ambulance and St Bridget's Church.

At Jane Pyle's Nichols Nymet Farm, North Tawton, visitors came from as far away as South Devon and helped raise £300 for the air ambulance and St Peter's Church.