Conister Bank is offering Manx farmers financial assistance to buy essential fertiliser products.

The bank is the Island's oldest independent lender and has stepped in to help local farmers following the shock announcement by ING late last year that they would no longer be providing credit facilities.

The news was potentially a major setback for the local farming community. However, facilities provided by the bank will now ensure that the rising cost of fertiliser is assured - and for the first time from an Isle of Man lender.

Under the terms of the new scheme, Conister have confirmed that a comparable finance arrangement to that previously offered by ING will be made available. Loans may be spread over an eight month period, known as the four and four system, with nothing to pay in the first four months and the balance spread over the second four.