MORE footpaths have been opened to provide an Easter bonus for walkers.

Darlington Borough Council has decided to open eight paths closed because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The move follows consultation with the NFU and follows Maff guidelines, bringing the number of paths open in the borough to 28, with 37km open out of a total of 208km.

Among the reopened paths are a route from Low Coniscliffe to High Coniscliffe along the River Tees, a riverside walk at Middleton-One-Row through Dinsdale Wood, and three walks in Hurworth Place.

A council spokesman said further risk assessments would be carried out on footpaths which remained closed.