Tourism has been hit by foot-and-mouth

Mr MacKay also said additional financial support would be made available in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

The minister said: "We promised to keep the terms of the scheme under review and, in recognition of the on-going effect on businesses from foot-and-mouth, we have now decided to extend the scheme.

"The 17 rural councils covered by this scheme will continue to receive the additional support from the executive in providing hardship relief to businesses in their area."

Foot-and-mouth has compounded the problems of falling farm incomes in some areas of Scotland.

Dumfries and Galloway was the worst hit region during the outbreak, with the Borders also badly affected.

Since the first Scottish case at Lockerbie on 1 March there have been 187 confirmed cases across the two regions.

In total about 1,500 farms have lost 750,000 animals.

Tourism and other small businesses have suffered through the restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the disease.

It was feared tourists would be put off from booking holidays in Scotland because of the outbreak.