The foot and mouth crisis has undoubtedly had a huge impact countryside. But while coverage of the disease has died down nationally, the disease and its spin-off effects are still a huge concern in Wharfedale.

Events which would have attracted tourists have been cancelled, trade in the towns is effected and farmers may well be forced out of business.

Hundreds of cattle and thousands of sheep have been culled in the Ilkley area, Ilkley Moor is still closed and the summer is halfway through.

As controversy raged about whether Ilkley Moor should be reopened we asked people on the streets of Ilkley what they thought about the Government's handling of the crisis and about people who break the restrictions on walking in the countryside.

Ilkley butcher Jeff Rayson, 47, said: "There just aren't as many visitors, it's having a huge effect. When the trains don't run as well, it all adds up. There's not a lot I can say that hasn't already been said. It's awful."

Maurice Austin Warrenberg, 79, of Mayfield Avenue, Ilkley said: "Having the moor shut is daft because there are still sheep wandering on the road. If the moor stays shut it will have a knock-on effect for the whole town.

"I am suspicious of what the Government knows about the situation." He added: "I can see no end to foot and mouth in the near future."

His wife, Shirley, 70, added: "It's terribly depressing for the area. People don't realise the really depressing effect foot and mouth can have on towns and it seems they should have had some sort of contingency plan.

"At the same time, people think that if they come to a town like this, they'll hear shooting or see livestock on fire."

Connie Goodyear, of Riddings Road, Ilkley, said she knew of people who actually had seen animals being killed: "I know some people who parked up in a car park and actually saw sheep being killed in the same car park. It's absolutely awful.

"I really think the moor should stay shut. I heard that people were seen last week on the Cow and Calf rocks. It's just ridiculous. Up on the moor there are sheep all over the place and it only takes one car to drive along the moor to spread the disease further.

"Now foot and mouth is predominantly in the North, people seem to be ignoring it, but it's still a huge and upsetting problem. It's absolutely heart breaking, I don't think about it too much because I get upset."

A visitor to Ilkley, 70-year-old Brian Morris, from Leeds, said: "The Government should have done something at the beginning. I think farmers could have done more in their ways of moving livestock.

"Animals have been moved all over the country and the consequences of that might be huge."

As for people who break restrictions, he said: "Anyone who breaks the bans should be prosecuted, it's as simple as that."

Joan Hopwood, 60, from Eldwick near Bingley, who was also visiting the area, said: "I think maybe MAFF should have vaccinated animals at the beginning and they should have had a crisis committee, so they could have had a strategy. Then there would have been no wondering what to do when the worst happened."

When asked about Ilkley Moor, she said: "The sheep on the moor could be a problem, they should have tested them way back. Because we don't know where foot and mouth came from it could pose a big problem."

Roy Walker, 73, from Bramley, Leeds said: "I think the Government are doing their best." He added: "People who break regulations are really stupid. We rely on those with commonsense, but it still happens."

Despite the restrictions in the area, it seems that some people are still visiting Wharfedale, even though they can't venture further into the countryside.

The general view was that the moor ought to stay shut, even though there might be a knock-on effect on Ilkley and the surrounding area.

On the other hand, people we interviewed felt that more needed to be done in keeping the moor an isolated place because while the sheep were roaming along the road, there was still a risk of spreading the disease.

l Foot and mouth crisis latest - see Page 4