Several woodland and countryside areas closed to the public by Bradford Council to help prevent the spread of foot and mouth are being reopened from today.

The move follows the issuing of new guidelines by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which state that footpaths running at the side of fields containing livestock can be reopened.

Paths crossing the fields will remain shut.

Bradford Council has carried out a risk assessment of the district and will open sites gradually over the next few weeks. The first wave will include Elam Wood, at Riddlesden, and the St Ives Estate, Harden.

Sites remaining closed include Haworth, Harden and Keighley moors; Penistone Hill and Griffe Wood, Oakworth.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the council's executive member for the environment, said: "I am very keen that as much as possible of the countryside in the Bradford district is opened up to the public as soon as possible.

"New guidance from MAFF means the council is in a better position to open up footpaths and sites. We will be putting up new signs to make it clear which footpaths have been opened up."