ATHLETES across the country are bracing themselves for major disruption to competitions and training as foot and mouth disease takes hold.

The Fell Runners Association has urged its members not to train on open or farm land until the all-clear is given.

Other sports such as racing, motorsport, angling and the international rugby union fixture between Wales and Ireland have also been affected by the virus.

An FRA spokesperson said: "Runners intending to participate in fell races over the next few weeks should be aware that there is every possibility of races being cancelled.

"All races in the FRA calendar for the weekend of March 3rd and 4th have now either been cancelled or postponed.

"Remember that farmers and landowners' livelihoods are at stake. These are people we depend on for access for our sport and we owe it to them to behave responsibly."

Other governing bodies have echoed the calls for care to be taken.

The UK Athletics Cross Country Policy and Support Team has urged all meeting organisers to ensure they do all they can to avoid the spread of the disease.

"Athletics must do nothing to increase the plight of the farmers in any way," a spokesperson said.

Race casualties include last Sunday's Ilkley Moor Fell Race, which has been put back to Sunday 18th March. Closer to home, the orienteering event at Tockholes near Darwen on the same day was another victim.

No final decision has yet been taken on the English Schools Cross Country Championship, which concerns a number of East Lancashire athletes who have been selected for the Lancashire team.

The race is due to take place at Chelmsford on Saturday March 10th. The course is on parkland outside of the exclusion zone and at the moment is not believed to be a cause for concern.

Several local events have already been cancelled or postponed. Race organiser Andy O'Sullivan, however, says his races are unaffected at the moment, including the Pam Haworth multi terrain 4.3M at Rochdale on Sunday 11th March.

Sports facilities at Witton Park, including the athletics track, will remain open. No other parks within the Blackburn with Darwen council area are affected.

The fate of the orienteering event at Lever Park, Horwich on Sunday 11th March is in the balance. The longer routes, which go up to Winter Hill, encroach on to grazing land. They would probably have to be re-routed for the event to go ahead.

Thanks to the enterprise of Accrington Road Runners and the kind co-operation of the police, Sunday's Hyndburn 10K is definitely on due to re-routing taking out three miles of canal bank.

It will go through Great Harwood and Rishton and will be re-measured as either 6M or 10K.

Also destined to beat the ban is the Lancashire Team of Under 13s and Under 15s competing in the Northern Inter Counties Sports Hall Athletics Championships on Saturday. Winners of the tournament, which is being held at Wigan, will progress to the National Finals.

The Fell Runners Association has told athletes to check with organisers before travelling to a fell race.