ALL rights of way in Durham, North Yorkshire and Cumbria were closed once local authorities were given the power to close footpaths and rights of way on Tuesday.

The powers followed concern that pleas to the public to stay away from the countryside had been ignored.

The announcement also said farmers providing public access under environmental schemes would not be expected to do so during the outbreak.

The NFU immediately welcomed the move and Mr Ben Gill, president, said: "I implore everyone once again: please, please, stay away from the countryside," he said.

Durham County Council had already closed all its countryside parks and picnic areas and on Tuesday was closing all public rights of way. People ignoring the closures face fines of up to £5,000.

Durham farmers who consider they are at special risk from footpaths close to their livestock housing can collect closure notices from the council's offices, the Dales Centre in Stanhope, Middleton-in-Teesdale tourist information centre in and main branch libraries.

North Yorkshire County Council was closing all public rights of way and has set up a farmers' and landowners' hotline on 01609 532765. All callers are urged to dial the Northallerton STD code even if they live in Northallerton, to ensure speedy contact.

Notices are also being supplied to district council offices and local libraries and may be downloaded from the county council web site at www.northyorks.gov.uk. Farmers are advised to display them where a right of way leaves a road.

The Yorkshire Dales national park was disappointed that large numbers of walkers and cyclists visited the park last weekend, despite requests to stay away from farmland.

On Wednesday the park decided to close all footpaths and bridleways but, with more than 2,000km of rights of way, the authority knows keeping everyone out is not easy.

Mr David Butterworth, park authority chief executive, urged the public to keep away from all farmland and, unless their visit to the park was urgent, to make other arrangements.

Park rangers have put up closure notices on rights of way, car parks, visitor centres and local shops in the park. Staff and volunteers will police visitor "hotspots" this weekend and offer guidance.

The North York Moors national park has closed all footpaths, bridleways, access areas and forests, and cancelled all meetings, site visits and events. Park staff are posting closure notices at the start of footpaths and bridleways.

Also closed are: all forest enterprise land; all National Trust land; all National Park estate land; the Cleveland Way, Coast to Coast and Lyke Wake walks.

"Alert" notices are available to farmers and landowners; the park will act as a central information point; rangers will be at key locations to inform people of restrictions; there will be liaison with other national parks and organisations; the authority will monitor the situation, holding daily emergency meetings.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has closed its 80 nature reserves until the outbreak ends and Durham Wildlife Trust asked the public to stay away from all its reserves.

The Forestry Commission closed all walks and recreation facilities in Hamsterley forest, which lies in an infected area.

Studley Royal deer park, near Ripon, was closed this week and notices discourage use of the park's public footpaths. All wildlife walks, school trips and other activities have been cancelled.

Although nearby Fountains Abbey and water gardens remain open, National Trust staff appealed to people to stay away until the full extent of the outbreak was known.

Mount Grace Priory and Brim-ham Rocks have also been closed.

Staff at Addison's, the Barnard Castle surveyors, auctioneers, land and estate agents, have stopped visiting farms. They have put a disinfectant footbath at the door of their Galgate premises in Galgate and have a spray for use indoors. Staff also carry disinfectant and sprays on necessary journeys in the dale