MORE footpaths and bridleways are to be closed in North Yorkshire as the battle against foot-and-mouth disease continues.

The restrictions - on top of those already in place - are in the newly-designated Thirsk disinfection area.

Their imposition follows discussions between the county council and Defra.

Footpaths and bridleways in the area will generally be closed until the intensive disinfection campaign, announced on Monday, comes to an end.

North Yorkshire County Council leader, Councillor John Weighell said: "At our meeting with Lord Whitty, the Food Chain Minister, he made it clear that all public rights of way should be open in North Yorkshire, except where the Government and county council agreed they should remain closed on disease control grounds.

"The new area of closure agreed with the Government is in support of the intensive bio-security activity around Thirsk."

The new restrictions apply broadly the to the area bounded by Northallerton, Helmsley, Malton, York, Harrogate and Ripon. All footpaths and bridleways within the area will remain closed for the time being.

Paths and bridleways within the new bio-security zone that were re-opened on June 16 - the area south of the A170 and east of the A19 - will be closed again during the course of this week.

Within that area individual paths will be considered for opening on a risk assessment basis. Those crossing land not used for livestock may remain open and the county council will continue to closely monitor the situation.

l The number of foot-and-mouth cases in North Yorkshire climbed to 122 yesterday.

A new outbreak at The Shades, at Sutton, Thirsk, takes that cluster up to 11, while a new one at Croft Closes, Giggleswick, takes the Settle-Clitheroe cluster up to 100.