ACCESS to a footpath, closed since the crisis began, has sparked controversy in a North Yorkshire town.

A sign went up more than a week ago at Green Bridge, in the shadow of Richmond Castle, warning walkers that the riverside footpath is off-limits under the restrictions introduced to prevent the disease spreading.

However, people who use the route regularly were furious on Sunday when they saw a football match taking place on the adjoining pitch, at Earl's Orchard.

"Why should there be one rule for them and another for us," said a dog owner, who asked not to be named.

"We have nowhere to go with our dogs but The Batts and, although I clean up after mine, the grass is going to become a dog's toilet," she said.

The football teams were playing on land classified as a leisure facility and not a right of way but, yesterday, officials declined to discuss why the match went ahead.

However, North Yorkshire trading standards chief and co-ordinator of the county's anti-foot-and-mouth effort, Stuart Pudney, said that, despite the disease, life should be allowed to continue as much as possible.

"Restrictions should only have been introduced where footpaths cross agricultural land,'' he said.