A KEY phase in the reopening of footpaths on County Durham's fells has been postponed following new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth in Cumbria and Yorkshire.

Durham County Council was due to lift the blanket closure on footpaths in Teesdale this week. But new guidelines issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) states all footpaths across moorlands and fells adjacent to Cumbria should remain closed, along with land south of the A66 in the south of Teesdale on the Yorkshire border.

Some walks along the riverbanks of the Tees from Barnard Castle and at High Force will be opened this week as planned.