FOOTPATHS in Ramsbottom, Holcombe and Hawkshaw have being closed to try to stop foot and mouth disease reaching Bury.

Whitehall chiefs declared the areas "at risk" because of a confirmed outbreak across the West Pennine Moor at a farm in Chorley.

Under powers granted to Bury Council this week footpaths, tracks and bridleways crossing farm land in north Bury were shut until further notice.

Six children from local farms are also being kept away from school as part of the quarantine efforts.

And walkers are being urged to stay off farms and moorland for fear of spreading the virus.

On Wednesday (Feb 27), a second Lancashire case was identified at an abattoir in Great Harwood, near Blackburn.

Bury's environmental services officer, Mr Alan Freer, stressed: "To reduce the risk of spreading the disease, walkers, cyclists and horse riders should avoid going into the countryside and especially on to farmland.

"We are taking the precaution of closing public footpaths that cross agricultural land, for the moment in just the Ramsbottom, Holcombe and Hawkshaw areas, although we will continue to closely monitor the situation and we will be meeting on a daily basis to review what measures we need to take."

Bury Council's environmental chairman, Councillor Wayne Campbell added: "We want to take every precaution possible to stop the spread of this disease and we are asking local people to please stay away from agricultural and open land until the all clear is given." The foot and mouth disease crisis has also led to a whole range of precautions being taken in the borough. These include:

The closure of Ramsbottom's Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary to visitors.

The shutdown of the farm centre at Heaton Park.

Holcombe Hunt has suspended its activities, including the cancellation of it point-to-point race scheduled for March 24.

Rossendale Search and Rescue Team has suspended search dog training and bought a decontamination system to ensure personnel and vehicles can be disinfected.

The North West Riding Association for the Handicapped, based at Holcombe, has suspended its activities until further notice.

Many farmers have put "keep out" signs at entrances to their land and set up disinfectant stations for visitors, such as those collecting milk from dairy herds or delivering feedstuff.

Holcombe sheep farmer Mrs Jane Hilditch, of Harcles Hill Farm, urged parents to ensure that their children act responsibly during the crisis after spotting motocross bikes near her farm.

She said: "We need the public to do their part. It only takes one person to spread the virus. I know the scramblers are enjoying themselves but they are putting farmers' livelihoods at risk.

Mrs Hilditch, chairman of Holcombe Moor Commoners Association added: "Farmers will be compensated for the value of the animals which are destroyed as a result of the outbreak but we will not be compensated for the years of work we have put in building up the flock nor the six months or so before we will be able to start farming again, that is if we can start farming again."

A local company is helping curb the shortage of vital foot and mouth disinfectant by harnessing the Internet.

Trippier's, based in Tottington Road, Bury, went on-line to MAFF's web site to determine what approved chemical they could supply locally.

Now the business, which supplies a range of hygiene and other products, has ordered quantities of citric acid BP which comes in powered form.

The disinfectant will be sold either as powdered or in a diluted form.

Foot and mouth is a highly infectious viral disease in which fever is followed by the development of vesicles or blisters, chiefly in the mouth or on the feet. The disease can be spread by direct or indirect contact with infected animals.

It can also be extended via the movement of animals, persons, vehicles and other things contaminated by the virus.

Meat from the carcasses of infected animals can also transmit the virus.

The disease, for which there is no cure, is rarely fatal except in the case of very young animals. It usually runs its course in two or three weeks.

Justification for the animal slaughter policy is that widespread disease throughout the country would be economically disastrous due to its effects.

There has only been one recorded case of foot and mouth disease in a human in the UK.