LIKE many people I enjoy a little stroll through Worden Park in Leyland, it's great for the circulation.

But during the foot-and-mouth crisis I have abstained from wandering too far in any rural area.

So you can imagine how shocked I was that people are 'flouting' the rules and wandering all over the parks in Preston -- potentially spreading this awful disease.

But what baffles me even more is that Preston Borough Council or the county council (whichever it concerns) has not seen fit to close the parks all together.

In my opinion, people who wander all over agricultural land without a care in the world about foot-and-mouth are thoughtless and totally irresponsible.

Like many people I'm old enough to remember the last bought of foot-and-mouth in 1967. Despite the awful scenes of burning cattle and sheep, many farmers found themselves out of business.

This time around it seems that there will be another round of farmers put out of businesses and no amount of government money will compensate for their life's work down the drain. But what do people care? When you see pictures of people cycling and walking through parkland, when there are warning signs requesting them not to, it seems hardly surprising that cases of foot-and-mouth are still on the up.

Who needs the wind to spread the disease when there are plenty of people eager to take up the role?

P Simons, Preston Road, Farington.