The British government was today accused of "bullying" counties to open their footpaths as ministers swarmed over the country to show it was 'open for business' despite the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
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Mr Tony Blair
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Two disease-free counties have vowed to keep paths shut as a precaution while the government urged local authorities to ease restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair is keen to kick-start Britain's stalled tourism industry during the Easter break and show the world he is closer to controlling the disease.
Ministers say government vets have found no evidence the virus is being spread by tourists or walkers and regions may be holding back their own economies by not opening shops.
"Local authorities and others ought to be basing their assessment of how far they can open up the countryside on that scientific evidence," said Ms Beverley Hughes, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.
Lincolnshire County Council criticized the government for pressuring councils to reopen footpaths when it may be too early to relax restrictions. The infection can be carried on people's clothing and shoes and on the wind.
"It's wrong for the government to try to bully local authorities to change their mind," council leader Mr Jim Speechley told BBC radio, adding he would keep his county's paths shut. The county is so far free of foot-and-mouth.
The government has asked to meet Conservative controlled Buckinghamshire County Council to hear why every footpath and bridleway in the county is closed even though the region is foot-and-mouth free.
British cases of the disease rose to 1084 this morning from 1061 yesterday. Experts were also trying to pinpoint the source of an outbreak in the Scottish borders, 30 miles from the nearest confirmed case.
Ten ministers were expected to visit countryside spots including a Hampshire pub and join horseracing fans at the Grand National at Aintree.
In Cumbria, one of the worst-hit areas in Britain, mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington led a party of hikers along Cumbrian lanes to show the county's roads are still open to walkers, even if its fells are not.