Miles of countryside across the district - including scenic Baildon Moor - are expected to be reopened on Friday after a day of talks between Bradford Council and Government officials.

Ilkley Moor and other areas within three kilometres of confirmed foot and mouth disease outbreaks will remain closed to the public, however.

It is likely to mean the re-opening of Baildon Golf Club, which has lost about £15,000 since its closure by the Council in February to try to stop the spread of the disease.

Today, a meeting called by the Council with National Farmers Union, land owners and businesses was discussing requests from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to reopen the countryside on Friday.

The Department turned down a request by the Council for a deferment because cases are still occurring.

The Council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said it was highly probable areas including Baildon Moor would be opened but they had concerns about unclear advice and "mixed messages" from the Department.

And Mark Lupton, of Strathmore Farm, Baildon, who has a champion herd of rare Dexter cattle, said he would be concerned about the moor re-opening before it was known if any sheep culled there at the weekend were infected.

Now the Council will seek top level talks in a bid to get compensation for dozens of rural businesses across the district which lost thousands of pounds as they struggled because of countryside bans.

But a spokesman for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was only placing restrictions in the area of Hope Farm, Baildon, where a contact with another infected area had occurred.

She said it included a prohibition on movement of stock and access to buildings but any decision on the future of the rest of the moor would depend on the council.

Today, Coun Hawkesworth said: "I am acutely aware of the effect on Baildon Golf Club and businesses linked closely with the countryside, who have received no compensation from the Government."

She said officers had been asked to seek talks in a bid to get help for the businesses which did not fall into the same compensation category as farmers.

John Cooley, honorary secretary of Baildon Golf Club, said: "It would be absolutely wonderful news for the club to reopen. We have heard so many things from different sources."

He said the 700 member club had faced serious problems since the closure of the greens, but he was confident it would survive.

"It is not only a golf club, it is part of the village community," he added. "We have got some good members who will rally round."