THE people of Devon have been abandoned as they struggle with the knock-on effects of foot and mouth, said Conservative leader William Hague during his visit to Tavistock on Tuesday.

'Farmers have been driven to desperation — and even now many of the payments that are being made are not being made in time. I believe we have to give our farmers a fair chance to compete,' he said.

Mr Hague said farmers were in a desperate situation. Their incomes had been halved and halved again and now they had foot and mouth to cope with on top of that.

He acknowledged the Government had done some things — but felt they were 'trying to pretend' the problem was over. Had they called in the Army in the early stages of the crisis it could have been contained more easily.

'The economic impact will be around for some time because in the summer we have lost the people that booked in the spring. These people will not come back very easily.'

Mr Hague believed the Government had not recognised how 'serious the problems are for some'.

'They are making a false economy by failing to help because a government that doesn't give more help now will end up paying more later to rejuvenate the rural economy.'

It was a long hot wait for those arriving early in Bedford Square to glimpse the leader. But as he walked towards the town hall through a parting sea of blue rosettes the cheers resounded.

So too, did the chants from hecklers. Market trader Colin Colcuddy enterprisingly delivered his message about 'riding on the back of the working class' with a megaphone.

With the heat of the afternoon sun beating down the 'Wombles Against Willy' — costumed figures opposing the Tory leader — could have done with a moult. 'We came down to add a bit of spice to the campaign, but it is getting very hot in these outfits' said perspiring 'Womble' Shane.

Inside the town hall Mr Hague was introduced by Geoffrey Cox, Conservative candidate for West Devon and Torridge as: 'the leader of the opposition now — but on June 8 the Prime Minister of our country!'

Against a sky-blue backdrop proclaiming 'Common Sense for Tavistock' Mr Hague said promoting tourism was part of his party's strategy of recovery after foot and mouth.

'We need to invest now in tourism if we are to make sure that the tourism industry survives.'

He said his party would reduce the price of petrol by 6p a litre. 'For so many people in Devon who do not have good public transport the car isn't a luxury — it's a necessity, and they have been penalised by higher and higher tax.'

Mr Hague said on Europe his party would always be in the European Union but refused to be run by it. 'If we are not big enough to run our own affairs, who is?'

Later, talking with an invited group of people at the Ordulph Arms, Mr Hague was told by farmer John Dawe that he had 'gone through hell' since the foot and mouth outbreak.

'What are we going to do to earn a living for the next 18 months? It is going to be two to three years down the line before we have anything to sell,' he said.

Mr Hague said it was important to have more food hygiene and welfare standards on imported food.

'Then we have to compensate businesses and help the rural economy in general which the agricultural community reacts with.'

He said there had to be a full public enquiry into the way MAFF had handled the crisis.

Farmer George Thomas, from Highampton, told Mr Hague: 'I have been to hell and back — and I'm still there. Nothing is getting better. I cannot get answers.

Mr Hague sympathised and said the danger now was that because it was not in the news people began to think it was all over.

Julie Searle, who runs the Lydford House Hotel and riding stables told Mr Hague that events had meant people 'are not in charge of our own destiny'.

'I have horses to feed. No one has given me a handout — I have to go further into overdraft. This is my life savings and my dream and I'm losing it and I am bitter.'

Mr Hague said it was 'essential ' to implement a strategy of recovery and 'only a Conservative Government will do that.'

Then Mr Hague boarded his battle bus and headed towards Plymouth followed by two coaches packed with press. The square cleared, the media circus haad left town.