WALKERS are being urged to stick to tarmac roads or paths as foot and mouth outbreak precautions continue nationwide.

Police and Council officers are appealing for people to respect the decision to close leisure facilities such as Pennington and Haigh country parks and the borough's footpath and bridleway network.

Last weekend council staff were busy putting up closure signs on footpaths and this weekend Council officers will be patrolling all country areas ensuring people observe restriction notices which have been put up at hundreds of locations.

A spokesman said: "The majority of people take the disease seriously and are observing the restrictions but there are still a few who do not seem to understand how disastrous the crisis is for Britain's farming community and ultimately for the cost of food. Sadly some closure signs have been destroyed by thoughtless people who do not understand the seriousness of the situation."

Police are warning that those who persist in walking in banned areas can be arrested and prosecuted and face a fine of up to £5,000.

Borough environmental health director Bob Saunders said: "People must realise although we have as yet no confirmed cases of the disease in the borough we do have an infected area and this disease spreads like wildfire and is difficult to contain. This is a national crisis in which we must play our part to the full.

"Please don't use the footpaths or cross open farm land. If we can defeat this virus by stopping its spread, then we can all get back to responsible use and enjoyment of the countryside sooner rather than later."