TOURISM bosses are targeting pathways at key visitor attractions in a campaign to reopen the countryside.

The drive aims to throw a lifeline to struggling tourism businesses, many of which have had no money coming in since the start of the crisis, in February.

Risk assessments are being carried out on rights-of-way across the North-East and North Yorkshire, to determine which can be reopened with minimal danger of spreading the disease.

The Countryside Agency has set up a £250,000 fund to help councils carry out the assessments and to reopen paths.

The agency said substantial progress on improving access may not be made until the end of next month, but tourist boards said reopening key sites could make a significant difference in encouraging visitors to return to the countryside.

Richard Spencer, head of marketing for Northumbria Tourist Board, said: "Clearly it is very important to get paths open, not necessarily because people want to walk, but because they want to have a choice.

"Tourism is much more than just footpaths, but they are critical in getting people back into the habit of going into the countryside."

He said key locations for reopening paths included High Force, Hadrian's Wall, Kielder Forest, Hamsterley Forest and the Derwent Reservoir.

A Yorkshire Tourist Board spokesman said it was keen for paths to open in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, particular at tourist spots including Aysgarth Falls, Castleton on the moors and parts of the Pennine Way, through Wensleydale.

She said: "People do enjoy the smaller walks in the dales, where they can take their car and go for three or four hours.

"Obviously we would be happy for any paths to reopen, provided it is safe to do so."

Clare Heaps, countryside officer for the Countryside Agency, said it was looking for local authorities to carry out the risk assessments as soon as possible.

She said: "One of our priorities is the paths that are used by lots of people, but it has to be done in consultation with farmers and landowners, and we have to be sure we do not put livestock at risk."