THE wife of a lock keeper says she was assaulted when she tried to stop a woman using the canal towpath outside her cottage near Droitwich, put out of bounds by the foot and mouth epidemic.

Barbara Troth, from Astwood Lane, Hanbury, was knocked to the floor when attempting to carry out a British Waterways ban on pedestrians using the towpath.

Offenders found guilty of flouting the law can be fined up to £3,000.

Barbara has also suffered verbal abuse from walkers who insist on using the path near her canalside home, despite warning notices that it is closed.

On both occasions, the last was on Easter Monday, she reported the incident to police as outlined in a British Water-ways directive but they failed to respond.

Barbara, whose husband, Alan, is a lock keeper on the Worcester and Birmingham canal, said: "They just didn't want to know."

She believes the "countryside is open" message put out by the Government is confusing, especially when the canals are open while some towpaths are closed.

Boat people are required to disinfect footwear when leaving or returning to their vessels.

The Worcester and Birmingham canal runs through farmland which has seen several outbreaks of the disease.

A British Waterways spokeswoman said some towpaths are open but notices are clearly displayed on those which are closed.

Worcester police could not be contacted for a comment yesterday.