AN ANIMAL sanctuary has closed its doors and Ramblers Association groups have cancelled group walks as the foot-and-mouth crisis tightens its grip.

Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Turn Village, Rossendale, has locked its gates and taped off entrances, refusing to allow visitors to see its rescued animals.

Estate manager Bill Holden said: "We took the decision on Thursday because we have a lot of cloven-hoof farm animals and we thought it was the sensible thing to do -- we just can't take the risk."

He said as soon as the Ministry of Agriculture lifts the ban on the movement of livestock the sanctuary will reopen.

Only Foals and Horses Sanctuary in Oswaldtwistle did not advertise it was open and put a notice on the gate warning about the disease.

Co-ordinator Olive Lomas said: "We confined people to one building where the horses and ponies are, and closed the other which has sheep, pigs and goats in.

"We also got everyone who visited to disinfect their hands and footwear before they left the site. It did make a big difference to us both for visitor numbers and financially but nothing to the blow and worry that the farmers are going through. We will grin and bear it and hope that nothing drastic happens round here."

North East Lancashire Ramblers' Association area secretary Mrs Susan Baxendale said: "While the threat of this terrible disease remains, we feel it would be very irresponsible for us to consider our walks programme at this time. We have therefore cancelled all local group walks, and our area coach rambles, until further notice."

The disease was confirmed on another farm in Devon at the weekend making seven areas affected by foot and mouth with tests being carried out on a further five sites being tested after animals were showing possible symptoms.

Yesterday ministry officials began burning carcasses of slaughtered animals infected with the disease.

All livestock movements in the UK have been banned for the next seven days.

National Farmers' Union president Ben Gill said: "This will be hard -- but not as hard as if foot and mouth spreads throughout the entire British livestock population.

"This has been a very tough decision but there really was no choice. Movement restrictions on every farm are the only way we can ensure that foot and mouth does not spread any further than it has done already."

The RSPB has closed all its nature reserves and fisherman have been advised not to go on the river banks or waterways. NO ENTRY: William Holden, estate manager at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, posts warning notices on the gate