MOST, if not all, footpaths in the Yorkshire Dales national park should be open by the end of November, the government revealed this week.

Dr Nafees Meah, regional operations director for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at Leeds, said a team of ministry vets would carry out a full risk assessment of paths and bridleways in the park in mid to late November.

The confirmation came on Wednesday when Coun John Weighell, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, and Coun John Blackie, chairman of the authority's foot-and-mouth group, met Dr Meah.

Blanket closures were lifted last week but several paths remained closed because they crossed infected, dangerous contact or contiguous land.

"Defra has promised vets will visit during mid to late November to risk assess footpaths in the national park, including those which remain closed in Wensleydale, Bishopdale and the tip of upper Swaledale," said Coun Blackie. "Most, if not all, should be open by the end of the month."

The news came as national park officials urged people to check with park visitor centres before setting off to walk in Wensleydale and Bishopdale.

Although most paths were open, it took time for officers to post notices and the situation changed daily.

A park authority spokesman said the organisation was third in line in the process of re-opening rights of way, after Defra and the county council.

"Blanket closures are being lifted but we can not overnight get the notices out," he said. "Everyone calling at a national park centre will get up-to-date information. We still have a foot-and-mouth access co-ordinator full time on the staff."

The comments followed confusion on the part of a resident of Thoralby, in Bishopdale, who read of the lifting of blanket closures in last week's D&S Times but was given a map, dated October 24, at a national park centre which showed most of Wensleydale still under restrictions.

Mr Alan Hartley urged the park authority to ensure information released to the public was up-to-date and accurate.

The park spokesman said the map was correct on October 24 but would have been out of date the following day. He apologised for any confusion but urged people to contact national park centres before setting off to walk