REOPENING of footpaths in Herefordshire and Worcestershire is set to proceed cautiously, despite new advice from the government.

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions recommends reopening of all rural rights of way, except within three kilometres of infected premises. It says with the decline in the foot-and-mouth outbreak, and the hotter weather, the likelihood of walkers spreading the disease is low.

But Ian Bamforth, Worcestershire's countryside manager, said: "We have to move forward very cautiously. We're aware of these new guidelines but we'll have to look very closely at them before implementing them."

Mike Eastwood, Herefordshire's rights-of-way officer, said: "We'll be having discussions with landowners next week about this but we will be cautious. Herefordshire is almost totally an infected area and we cannot take unnecessary risks."