THE southern stretch of the Malvern Hills will remain closed this weekend due to foot and mouth precautions, despite the reopening of many footpaths throughout Worcestershire

Ian Rowat, director of Malvern Hills Conservators, opened access to the Old Hills at Callow End as soon as he got the go-ahead from Worcestershire County Council on Monday (June 18).

But he is still consulting with Herefordshire Council and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) about opening the hills and commons from British Camp southwards.

"We're not in an infected area and I should like to see both stock and people allowed back on Castlemorton Common but first I have to get approval from DEFRA," he said.

Gloucestershire County Council, which covers Chase End Hill, does not intend to open any rights of way west of the M5 before July.

Worcestershire took the decision to open all rights of way outside 3km protection zones last Thursday, after consultations with the NFU and DEFRA.

"It's a massive task. We have written to farmers and landowners and we're expecting it to take eight to 10 days to get all the footpaths, bridleways and access land open," said countryside officer Ian Bamforth.

There are 16 protection zones in Worcestershire, covering up to 30 per cent of the county's rights of way but the position is changing all the time.

"We're liaising with DEFRA daily and they will advise us when they lift protection zone status,"added Mr Bamforth.

As footpaths are reopened, closure signs will be replaced with yellow "path open" signs and paths remaining closed will have red signs instead of the previous white ones.

"In the majority of cases the public have been excellent in following guidance and we ask them to continue to obey 'closed' signs and follow the new guidance displayed with 'open' signs," said Mr Bamforth.

Some of the re-opened paths have not been used for several months and are now overgrown, so a major clearance programme will be needed.

"In the meantime, I would ask that path users bear with us over the next few months," said Mr Bamforth.

Meanwhile, Ian Rowat will lead a Royal Agricultural College Association farm walk on the northern section of the Malvern Hills on Friday (June 29).

This year's walk, to be followed by a reception at the Three Counties Showground, focuses on large-scale land management.