NORTH Yorkshire County Council is pressing the Government for more rapid progress in completing the re-opening of the countryside.

A delegation of councillors and MPs from North Yorkshire urged Countryside Minister Alun Michael to set out a clear timetable for lifting restrictions and finishing the task of re-opening the countryside.

Leader of the council, Councillor John Weighell, said: "Three months after the county's last foot-and-mouth case, it is very important that North Yorkshire be declared officially free of the disease.

"It is now also time to open paths and bridleways which are still closed, except in particularly higher risk circumstances."

The North Yorkshire delegation, including MP William Hague, pressed the minister for extension of business rate relief until April next year, re-opening of auction marts and investment in them, more investment in promoting rural tourism and a review of the 21-day rule on livestock movements

Read more about the foot-and-mouth crisis here.