THE intended re-opening of footpaths in Teesdale has been postponed following new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth in Cumbria and Yorkshire.

Durham County Council had hoped to lift the blanket closure of footpaths this week, but new guidelines issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs say all footpaths on land south of the A66 to the Yorkshire border should remain closed.

Although there have been no new outbreaks of the disease in County Durham since May, new cases have been confirmed right up to the border with Cumbria.

Mr Charles Moir, Defra's chief divisional vet, said: "The sheep on the Pennine fells in Cumbria and Yorkshire do not respect council boundaries and can cross the border and mix with sheep in County Durham.

"The risk of the disease spreading into the Durham fells is significant, which is why I have advised Durham County Council to keep paths closed along moorland adjacent to Cumbria and Yorkshire."

Mr Chris Tunstall, the county council's director of environment and technical services, said it was disappointing to have to slow down the footpath re-opening programme.

"We have been in constant contact with Defra," he said, "and it's very necessary to help ensure that the disease does not return to County Durham.

"Although a number of quite lightly used paths on the fells will have to stay closed, some of the most spectacular walks along the riverbanks of the Tees from Barnard Castle and at High Force will be opened this week as planned."

Mr Tunstall added that work on re-opening paths in the east and north of the county was virtually complete, and was well under way in Weardale.