FOOT and mouth slammed the door firmly shut on the Lawrence farming family's beef business. But as one door closes every business person hopes another opens.

The Lawrences of Hoath, near Canterbury, sold on most of their cattle to be fattened by others. Movement restrictions and the closure of markets put paid to that, and last year they were left with a number of unsold heifers.

"Heifers tend to have a little more fat than the males, and because they are older than beef cattle they have more flavour," says Derek Lawrence.

The joints had always been popular within the family and now, with 12 beasts available, Derek and sons Richard and Darren decided to try the direct selling business.

"We sell boxes of beef, starting at just 1/8 of a carcass, packed into manageable sizes of mince, steaks and joints at £4.99 per kg - £2.26 a pound - not including fillet steak," said Ted

The business is made possible by the recent opening of small specialist abattoir J.R. Farm Meats at Ratling Court Farm, Aylesham.