Farmers in Keighley and South Craven are being warned that time is running out to study a draft map of land being opened up to the public.

The map -- produced by the Countryside Agency -- shows proposed rights of way being introduced under new legislation, giving people new rights to walk over open country and registered common land.

The National Farmers' Union is urging its members to check the map before the February 11 deadline for comments.

Spokesman David Collier said: "It is extremely important that farmers check the map is correct in its description of their land.

"If the draft map was unchallenged and access mistakenly granted, the landowners' descendants might be regretting it for generations to come.

"At a meeting earlier this month of NFU staff and members from throughout the area, it became clear that there are lots of errors. As well as farmland incorrectly marked on the map as moorland, for example, we heard of golf courses, private gardens and even a supermarket car park mapped for public access.

"Many farmers have attended roadshows organised by the Countryside Agency in conjunction with the NFU, but there is a danger that farmers in lowland areas particularly will assume they are unaffected, and that may not be the case."

The draft map was published last November for public consultation.

Once the Countryside Agency has analysed comments it will prepare a provisional map, which should be ready in June, and there will then be an opportunity for formal appeals to the Secretary of State for the Environment.

A final version of the map will then be published. The draft map can be viewed on the Countryside Agency web site -- www.countryside.gov.uk/access/mapping -- and at some libraries and visitor centres.

There is also a helpline, on 0845 100 3298.