Mustard maker Bruce Young has seen a 25 per cent drop in orders over the last month due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Five years ago, Mr Young, who is also head of drama at Burford School, set up a business at Shaken Oak farm, near Hailey, featuring a range of mustards, dressings and sauces using home-grown herbs.

Last year Shaken Oak won two silver awards at the 2000 Great Taste Awards organised by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers. Mr Young makes about 6,000 jars of mustard and sauces a year, as well as salad dressings.

He is helped by his wife Amanda, son Arthur aged 16, and Mrs Young's parents Peter and Juliette Hopwood, who bought the farm in the 1950s.

Mr Young said: "I like food and started making mustards. Friends like them and I took a few jars to the Royal Oak pub nearby in Ramsden and it all started from there.

"It's all done by hand and I now supply 60 shops and wholesalers. Last year was the best I've had but last month orders were down by 25 per cent.

"Many farm shops are not open and many of the agricultural shows where I make a lot of sales are being cancelled or postponed.

"Many people just think foot and mouth disease is just affecting the farmers and tourist trade, but it is hitting many other rural-based businesses like mine.