Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, has unveiled a multi-million pound rescue package today for English market towns suffering from tourism losses due to the foot and mouth crisis. Prescott revealed a rescue package of up to £43m for nearly 50 towns across England reliant on rural tourism and devastated by foot and mouth. Most of the resources will go to towns facing restricted access in the South-West, North-East and the Midlands. With some towns earmarked to receive about £1m each, the aid follows the government's rural white paper last year, aimed at helping struggling local communities. Such communities have been ravaged by the foot and mouth outbreak with losses to the tourism industry pitched at £140m a week in England alone, according to the British Tourist Authority. Speaking on a trip to Market Drayton, Shropshire today, Prescott was confident that the cash will make a significant difference: I am confident that this £43m will make a real difference and provide an important boost to people in these towns and surrounding villages. We are determined to help them find long term solutions to the serious challenges they face. A further rescue package for 30 more towns anticipated in the next year.