The EU has agreed to help the government bail out farmers hit by the foot and mouth crisis.

In a statement released on Thursday the European Commission announced it had agreed to pay £224 million to the government as initial compensation for the outbreak.

In total the EU has agreed to pay £253 million to farmers in member states whose herds were slaughtered to halt the disease becoming a Europe-wide outbreak. Holland will get £24.7 million with France and Ireland set to receive £2.1 million and £1.7 million respectively.

Costs are based on either the value of the animal or, if lower, the value set by the member state. The pay out is an advance on the total compensation claims which have yet to be agreed and will be settled when the countries put in their final claims.