Riding teachers in jodhpurs lined up beside climbing instructors, chefs, landladies with spaniels, and guidebook writers in waterproofs. They wanted compensation, government subsidies, tax relief for their businesses and no May 3 election. They also wanted to get on American television to tell US tourists there were plenty of museums still open for business. But as the number of diseased farms in Cumbria rose to 137 and soldiers helped dispose of growing carcass mountains, Keswick looked deserted. The mannequins in shop windows were naked.
Locals say they can no longer afford to pay council tax and feed their children.
Mr Low applied for a job driving lorries this week and Mrs Low is looking for work. I'll do anything except lifting old people. We buy a newspaper once a week. We sit by the fire with one lamp on and only switch the television on to watch the news. We can't afford to advertise the guest house for next year.