DURHAM County Council is to relax its controls on grass cutting and road maintenance, which it introduced last month to limit the spread of the epidemic.

The authority imposed a blanket ban on all grass cutting and suspended many other highway maintenance activities in case the virus was carried by wind-blown cuttings and dust.

But following the latest guidance from Maff, and further risk assessment, the council announced it would start a phased return to normal operations.

In urban areas, grass cutting will take place on public road and county council land, except where it adjoins pasture land.

In rural areas, it will be restricted to highways where reduced visibility could pose a danger, and on county council land.

Surface dressing will be allowed in all urban areas and in rural areas which are outside three-kilometre restriction zones.