YORKSHIRE Dales national park planners have come up with a give and take policy to tackle the foot and mouth outbreak: most public footpaths will remain closed but a series of "safe" events has been planned for both visitors and locals during April.

The decisions were taken in response to Government pleas to tell the world that the British countryside is "still open for business" in many areas - but the authority also believes it is still too early to risk opening hundreds of miles of rights-of-way to walkers and trippers.

Steve Macaré, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, said: "The first priority for this Authority is to continue to help in anyway possible to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease in the National Park."

"In the immediate future we will not be supporting any moves to reopen the footpaths and bridleways in the National Park and we will continue to support North Yorkshire and Cumbria County Councils who are responsible for the closures. We will co-operate in reopening the rights of way as soon as it is safe to do so."

The decision will be particularly welcome in Wensleydale where a new outbreak has been confirmed at Leyburn - the ninth in Yorkshire - very close to the important racehorse training centre at Middleham. Animals are already being slaughtered from the cluster of outbreaks in Hawes.

The park has also decided, with regret, that the Yorkshire Dales Museum in Hawes will remain closed.

"In the short term we will continue to promote the message that the public need to remain vigilant in the countryside, to keep away from farmland and livestock, to respect the rights of way closures and to keep to the towns and villages and enjoy what is on offer there," said Mr Macaré.

However, to bring visitors back to the "safe" areas of the park, the authority is organising a series on attractions over the next few weeks. For full details, see Country News.

Other developments include:

• Specimens of dried beef and pork from China and Hong Kong have been found on the shelves of Chinese supermarkets in Britain. The first outbreak in Northumberland outbreak is believed to have been caused by pigswill from Chinese restaurants and vets say that the supermarket dried meats could carry the virus for up to six months.

• The political shilly-shallying over the outbreak continues. Opposition leader William Hague, who is touring affected areas in Yorkshire, Cumbria and the Borders today, has officially requested that any thoughts of a May 3 general election be abandoned. Some Labour politicians are now talking of a June poll.

• The Government's Countryside Agency announced today that it will back "pound for pound" any grants given by private or business organisations to charities helping relief distress to rural people caused by the epidemic. More details from Helen Thomson on 020 7340 2900 or email helen.thomson@countryside.gov.uk