MORE footpaths are to be reopened in North Yorkshire in a move timed to coincide with the lifting of some restrictions on animal movements.

Hundreds of public rights-of-way in the county have been closed for months because of the continuing foot-and-mouth crisis.

But from Monday the county council will start a phased re-opening programme in Wensleydale and around Skipton.

That will be followed by larger areas being re-opened to public access in the North York Moors National Park, beginning on October 1.

Movements of cattle and pigs will also start next Monday, but movements for sheep and goats will not start until October 1.

All rights-of-way within three kilometres of confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth will remain closed.

Footpaths within the Thirsk special bio-security zone will also stay closed until restrictions are lifted by the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

To cope with the expected high demand from livestock keepers, a new licensing centre is being established on the Standard Way industrial estate in Northallerton .

Head of regulatory services Stuart Pudney said: "It is anticipated that there will be 10,000 extra licence applications in addition to the licences to slaughter we are already issuing.

"Our contractors are working throughout the following weekends to ensure that everything is in place for the 24th. However, we are still waiting the new computer programme from Defra together with full details of how the scheme will operate and copies of the application forms, licences and conditions.

"We hope to be ready but if there is a couple of days delay then I would ask that farmers please bear with us."

Since the existing centre was set up in March in County Hall, Northallerton, farmers have made 210,000 calls to the licensing helpline and more than 26,000 individual licences have been issued.

The autumn animal movements scheme allows the movement from farm to farm for business, welfare and breeding purposes.

In some parts of the country the scheme began yesterday but because of North Yorkshire's high-risk status the start is being delayed.

The corresponding reopening of bridleways and footpaths is aimed to get as many routes as possible open in time for the autumn half-term holiday.

It is anticipated that the rights-of-way concerned will not all be re-opened at the same time as an extensive programme of re-signing as well as a programme to clear overgrown footpaths will be needed