A bid was today being made to keep scenic Baildon Moor shut amid concern over tests on hundreds of sheep culled last weekend.

Bradford Council is challenging a recommendation from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to reopen the moor and large areas of the district to the public again tomorrow. The department has already turned down a request for a deferment made by the Council last Friday.

But after a meeting yesterday between the Council, the National Farmers Union, landowners and businesses, a second approach was due to be made to officials.

Executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said the Council did not want to reopen Baildon Moor until a negative test result was received from the sheep which had been culled after a possible contact with the disease.

Coun Hawksworth (Cons, Ilkley) said they had also not received the full picture of the outbreak because DEFRA had never released a full list of farms where restrictions had been placed.

She said: "We are asking them to extend the timescale because of our concerns. There would be no point in reopening the moors, only to close them again, depending on a test result. It is a matter of concern."

The Council is asking for the area north of the River Aire, including Haworth, Culling-worth, parts of the Worth Valley and Baildon Moor to remain sealed off as a precaution.

Today, Tony Bowey of the National Farmers Union, said they wanted a common sense approach to the opening up of the countryside and there were still concerns.

Some parts of Bradford, including the Tong area, where there has not been an outbreak will be opened tomorrow.

A DEFRA spokesman said the results were not yet known of tests on the Baildon sheep but the process was going quickly.

John Cooley honorary secretary of Baildon Golf Club said they were preparing to reopen on July 28 with a special celebration after being shut since February.