The North East rural economy which was badly affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak has been given a boost by the National Trust.

On Friday it opens its first purpose-built farm shop, selling meat and dairy products produced by tenants at a large estate in Northumberland.

The scheme at the Wallington Estate, near Morpeth, is a pilot for one of the many schemes drawn up by the trust to support country areas.

Director general Fiona Reynolds said: "This is a very exciting development for us - we want to find a better future for farmers.

'Consumer benefits'

"Foot-and-mouth was the most recent of a series of farming disasters - we want to find a new way to revive the farming economy.

Actress Felicity Finch will be at the opening

"The idea is to help Trust tenant farmers on the estate to market their high-quality beef and lamb under a National Trust label which verifies the quality of its production and place of origin.

"The meat will be marketed at a premium of up to 20% and by avoiding the middle man more of this money will get into the farmer's pocket.

"The consumer will benefit through clear, traceable and high-quality meat."

"One of the great strengths of this exercise is that we are not only marketing the meat on the strength of the National Trust brand but also on the strength of the brand of Northumberland farming generally.

Master butcher

Special guest Felicity Finch, who plays Ruth Archer in BBC Radio 4's The Archers, will be at the shop on Friday.

The shop, managed by master butcher Hugh Lough, will sell beef and lamb reared on the 13,000 acre estate.

It will also sell home-cured bacon, pork and sausages as well as cheeses, eggs, jams and cakes, all produced in Northumberland.

The stately home at the estate, Wallington House, will be closed 1 October 2002 to 28 March 2004 for major repairs, but the walled garden, grounds and all other facilities will remain open.