Walkers were returning to areas of the countryside today after months of banishment due to foot and mouth.

Nearly 800 miles of footpaths were reopened by Bradford Council before midnight yesterday, including those on Baildon Moor and Shipley Glen.

The move followed guidance from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) saying restrictions on areas outside 3km foot and mouth protection zones must be lifted.

Yesterday, residents and visitors were already scattered around Baildon Moor.

Returning to the area, treasurer of Bradford CHA Rambling and Social Club Mike Smith said the foot and mouth crisis had taken its toll on walkers across the district who had been forced to travel or undertake road-walking.

He said: "Initially we called a virtual halt to the walking, but we have had an emergency schedule and have been going to places like Blackpool, the East Coast and Derbyshire.

"I'm delighted this area, which is the nearest open ammenity to Bradford, is open and we can all get on it. It's so nice to see people riding horses and mountain bikes for the first time in what seems like ages."

One Baildon resident, who had brought her family along to fly kites, said: "It's wonderful - it's been such a long time."

Defra imposed the new conditions despite a bid by Bradford Council to keep footpaths closed in Keighley amid fears farmers will be hit by further outbreaks.

Paths in the district which remain out of bounds are those in grazing land in the 3km zone around confirmed outbreaks such as Silsden, on the outskirts of Keighley and Middleton, near Ilkley.

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment, said the Council would have preferred to err on the side of caution, but always intended to open Baildon Moor.

A Defra spokeswoman said they were awaiting the results of tests taken on sheep culled on Baildon Moor who had been identified as having 'dangerous contact' with an infected area.

e-mail: suzy.poole

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk