NORTH Yorkshire's countryside is seeing an increasing number of walkers as people step out to enjoy better health, says the Ramblers' Association.

Members of the Derwent area branch were told at their annual meeting that its membership had risen by eight per cent in the past year and more people were likely to take up walking as a pastime as a result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, which will come into effect this year.

Association spokesman Peter Ayling said with the Government's concern about obesity and the need to promote healthy lifestyles, walking was seen as a cheap and effective way to achieve it.

He said no problems were envisaged when the rights of way system comes into effect, mainly because of the creation of local access forums involving farmers, landowners and walkers.

However, it would see links being created between existing public footpaths.

Alan Clark, leader of volunteer working parties run by the Ramblers Association, said the county council had appointed an officer to co-ordinate volunteer work on improving rights of way.

Area chairman Chris Bush said that a five-year plan for the York and North Yorkshire area envisaged 90 per cent of reported problems on rights of way being resolved.

He added that they included complaints about routes being ploughed and cropped.