IN ONE of the most bizarre twists of the whole foot and mouth crisis, a week old calf called Phoenix may - or may not - be responsible for saving the lives of thousands of healthy livestock.

Phoenix, a photogenic white heifer, survived for five days after her mother had been slaughtered on a Devon farm, to emerge hungry and distressed from under a pile of dead carcasses.

Government vets decided she must die but the calf was seized upon by the media and became a symbol of the will to survive. Last night, Downing Street announced she would be allowed to live - and hurriedly explained that it was on the point of changing policy anyway to slow down the slaughter of healthy animals near confirmed outbreaks.

More cynical observers suggested that, with a general election almost certainly due in five weeks time, No 10 spin-doctors were appalled at the idea of being seen as the "murderers" of such a brave - and cute - little creature.

Whatever the truth of the matter, Phoenix will be now one of tens of thousands to escape the slaughterers' stun-guns - a huge relief for hundreds of farmers close to, but unaffected by, confirmed foot and mouth cases.

Other developments include:

• The Craven Task Force, a joint body of local authorities, local business and voluntary groups, has welcomed the decision by North Yorkshire County Council to consider re-opening some footpaths and bridleways in time for the May Bank Holiday.

• Rachel Mann, co-ordinator of the Task Force and Craven District Council chief executive, said:
  
  "The Task Force will now look very carefully at what rights of way in the District can be opened without risking our disease free status. In doing so, we will use the County Council's risk assessment process that has been developed using Ministry of Agriculture guidance and after consultation with the NFU, rights of way user groups and other interested bodies.
  
  "We will ensure that the views' of the whole community are heard when considering any such openings, which could well pave the way for some limited openings in time for the May Day bank holiday. In the meantime we would continue to urge local people, as well as visitors, to respect the current restrictions that are in place in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease into the District".

• The Task Force has also renewed its call to all businesses in the Craven area, currently experiencing hardship because of the crisis to contact Craven District Council and register for Business Rate Relief and to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau to find out what other assistance is available.

• And in London, it was announced that this summer's Promenade Concerts, the world's biggest classical music festival, will have a pastoral theme as a way of demonstrating the centuries-old love affair between the British public and the countryside - despite the fact that 80% of the population now lives in towns and cities.