People planning trips to the Warwickshire countryside this weekend have been urged to cancel their trip because of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Warwickshire County Council's Countryside Recreation Team have issued the advice to help farmers in the county keep the virulent disease away from their livestock.

With support from the Ramblers Association, two organised walks planned for the weekend have been cancelled.

They were to have been led by Countryside Rangers on Sunday, starting from Burton Dassett Country Park and Ryton Pools.

Paths in the countryside will not be visited by rangers or inspectors unless the are health and safety issues that need to be urgently addressed

But Warwickshire's eight country parks and picnic sites will remain open.

Although humans do not suffer from the disease, they can carry it, and quarantine efforts have to be made to stop foot and mouth spreading.

Mark Wilkinson, Countryside Recreation Manager said:

"The majority of Warwickshire's 1,700 miles of footpaths and bridleways cross agricultural land and we work very closely with the county's farmers to keep the paths clear and open for people to enjoy.

“The farming industry has had a tough time recently and we are asking people to help the farmers in their bid to control the spread of this outbreak of foot and mouth disease by not taking part in recreational activities in the countryside over this coming weekend."

Mark added:

"Whilst there have been no reported cases of foot and mouth in Warwickshire and there is no risk to the public we are asking people to act in a responsible manner by following the advice that is being issued.

“By respecting the guidance we can all play a part in helping the farmers to contain the spread of the disease, so that people will be able to get back to enjoying Warwickshire's wonderful countryside very soon."

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