THE foot and mouth crisis has forced church leaders to cancel one of Ramsbottom's oldest traditions: the walk of witness up Holcombe Hill.

And people are being warned they face arrest if they try to set foot on the moors on Good Friday.

For the first time in more than 100 years, the annual pilgrimage to Peel Tower has been cancelled as a large area of moorland has been declared out of bounds in a bid to help prevent the disease spreading.

Church leaders have confirmed that their normal annual Act of Witness will abandon its long held procession and service on the local landmark.

A Good Friday noon service will instead take place in Market Square at Ramsbottom. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that they will have a presence in the Holcombe area on Good Friday to prevent access to land which has been classed as "infected" due to a case of foot and mouth across the West Pennine Moors at Chorley.

Bury Council's borough environmental services officer, Mr Alan Freer, said: "It is sad to lose a tradition like this but it is only for one year and it is because of exceptional circumstances.

"Holcombe Hill and the Act of Witness normally bring hundreds of people to the area but this time we are asking people to stay away from the hill and surrounding moorland.

"The majority of footpaths in and around Hawkshaw and Ramsbottom are closed because of foot and mouth and their closeness to livestock, farms and agricultural land."

Inspector Paul Crosbie of Ramsbottom Township warned: "Under the current regulations, offenders could face fines up to £5,000. We are appealing to the public to stay away from the hill for the time being."