POLICE officers in West Devon have been so affected by the foot and mouth crisis they have raised around £800 in just 12 hours to help those affected.
Chief Inspector Barry Frost, West Devon District Commander, said in addition to a collection box at Okehampton Police Station, officers are now signing a form consenting to donations being taken from their pay packets.
He said: 'Police officers are quite used to dealing with violence and crime, but foot and mouth has actually touched a lot of them much more.
'The relationship with farmers has been excellent and quite a lot of officers come back with terrible stories of what they have seen.'
Chief Inspector Frost said the donations were a show of empathy and support for the farmers during the crisis — he is in contact with the NFU and other agencies on how the money should be used most effectively.
He said: 'The officers feel they are doing something positive. A couple of days ago a farmer who was 73 came out to an officer. He had lived all his life on the farm, he was crying his eyes out, saying "I can't let my son see me like this, I'm so glad you are here".
'Farmers are isolated at the best of times — we are trying to get across that people are thinking of them.'
Anyone who would like to add to West Devon police district's collecting box is welcome to make a donation at Okehampton Police Station.