ONLY 25 New Forest businesses have so far claimed a share of the £250,000 lifeline thrown to traders hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

That represents just one-eighth of the available hardship fund announced last month to reduce the effect of weeks of countryside closedown on tourist numbers.

District finance boss Chris Malyon is hoping the lower-than-expected take-up could be a sign that the Forest has got off lightly in the nationwide disaster.

He told members of the district council advisory cabinet: "Twenty-five applications for rate relief is not as many as we feared. I hope this means we are in a positive position.

"There has been a lot of publicity to make sure people knew about the relief offer. People still have until June 30 to get applications in," he said.

The hardship fund announced on April 16 allows endangered small businesses to save up to £1,250 in emergency rate relief.

They must apply to the district finance department, and must prove they are at risk of going under.

Despite gleams of light at the end of the foot-and-mouth tunnel, pockets of despair still remain in the Forest.

In Lyndhurst, Tony Bargrove of Royals newsagents said the lifeline would make little impact on their losses.

"It is quieter now than in winter. We have no turnover. No visitors are coming because too much is still shut," he said.

"We are more restricted here than in the Forest of Dean where they have the disease. The New Forest is for people, not for the welfare of a couple of cows.

"We have sympathy for the commoners, but it's all one way. They have none for us."

Mr Bargrove added that the rate relief scheme could have been more widely publicised.

"We had to really delve to find out about it. I have applied, but I have not heard yet if I will receive it. I pay £655 in rates per month so it would help but it won't compensate for what I am still losing.

"The only answer is to open the Forest - car parks and caravan sites," he said.

Various measures have been taken by local authorities and other bodies to help local traders survive the 11-week-long crisis.

The Forestry Commission has re-opened 15 car parks in some of the most popular tourist spots.

Hampshire County Council has spent more than £125,000 on disinfected mats to prevent foot-and-mouth being carried into the Forest on vehicle wheels.

The district council allocated a £30,000 package last month to help the local tourism industry.

Good business for many over Easter was a big boost to morale.

Some shops and attractions reported trade up 20-30 per cent on last year, and a fine bank holiday weather forecast brings hope of another boom weekend to aid recovery.