PLEAS for the temporary cattle grids built on moorland roads to help combat the spread of foot-and-mouth disease this summer, to be made permanent, have been made by a leading upland farmer and councillor.

North York Moors National Park Authority was told by its vice chairman, county councillor Herbert Tindall, that unless they were retained four or five flocks of black faced sheep could be taken off the vast moorland.

Coun Tindall said that farmers and shepherds found they had to shepherd flocks twice a day in an area stretching several miles from Lealholm to Grosmont without the grids. Andy Wilson, the park's chief executive, said there had been three complaints from residents in the park about the temporary grids, asking for them to be removed following the ending of the epidemic.

If they were to be made permanent structures, he said, there would have to be a wide consultation.

"Hopefully we can come up with a solution to everyone's liking," he added