North Kent: The Government has forced Kent County Council to lift restrictions on footpaths protecting rare herds from possible foot-and-mouth infection.

Access to footpaths surrounding 16 farms had been restricted by the council to protect herds on the Rare Breed Survival Trust's critical list.

These include breeds such as Shetland cattle and Irish Moiled cattle.

But, despite the lifting of restrictions, the county council is to ask walkers to stay away in a bid to cut the risk of infection.

The animals are on the critical list because their numbers are down to between 100 and 200 breeding females.

Kent County Council (KCC) deputy leader Sarah Holder said: “The council is very concerned with the Government's order, especially in light of recent new cases of foot-and-mouth infection.

“I am not convinced the national situation is under control.

“We are making special KCC footpath signs which state 'although the path is now legally open because of a Government Order, the County Council considers there is still a risk to livestock from foot -and-mouth disease and we request that walkers voluntarily avoid it'.”

Rare Breed Survival Trust chief executive Rosemary Bansbridge said: “The trust recognises the experts in this field are the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, and the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

“We know they recognise the importance of these breeds, and will have made the necessary risk assessments.

“If they judge it safe to open the footpaths, then we are not in a position to provide contrary risk assessments.”