TORY leader Mr William Hague yesterday backed business leaders' calls to bring tourists back to the Yorkshire dales.

The Richmond MP was in Hawes to hear of the plight of local business people affected by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth in the area.

With many dales' hotels and bed and breakfasts suffering from 80pc cancellations this Easter, shops and businesses are anxious that government spreads the message that the countryside is open.

Mr Hague said: "We need to start promoting Tarmac tourism. The countryside is only closed in the sense of walking across livestock areas but hotels, businesses, shops and restaurants are open. People should take necessary precautions when they visit infected areas. In the vicinity there will be facilities they can visit. It is about people behaving responsibly."

Chairman of Upper Wensleydale business and tourism association, Mrs Kate Empsall, said urgent government action was needed.

She said: "Without customers we can't pay bills, wages, rents, mortgages or put food on the table. Easter is coming and visitors must know that castles, market towns, craft shops, potteries and some museums are open. Wensleydale is open for business. All we ask is that people keep away from livestock and keep dogs on leads."

Calls were also made to re-open the Dales Countryside Museum, but Mr David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said that would not happen yet.

He said: "We want to open the museum but the first priority is towards containing the disease in this area. We will not send out a message that we are open if we don't think foot-and-mouth is contained. Opening the museum is not going to save your businesses or the tourist industry."

Mr Maurice Hall, manager of Hawes auction mart, urged everyone to think before promoting tourism again.

He said: "We really want to be very careful about encouraging people to come here at the moment. We are not out of the woods yet."

But Mr Simon Shaw, owner of Wensleydale Potteries, said: "Tarmac tourism must be started up now, people must be told we are open and ready for them."