AS the foot and mouth crisis continues to bring misery to farmers throughout the country, reporters Margaret Smith and Joe Slade look at the current situation in Buckinghamshire.

Foot and mouth restrictions are being lifted at some leisure sites in Buckinghamshire, though most of the countryside is still closed.

With tourism losing millions, the Government wants more of the countryside open.

But Buckinghamshire County Council will not lift the footpath and bridleway ban it imposed early in the crisis. Its country parks are also off limits.

The county is one of the few free from the disease and the council wants things to stay that way.

Deputy council leader Bill Chapple said: "If the government tells us we have to lift the ban, it will have to take the rap if things go wrong."

Beaconsfield county councillor Margaret Dewar, who is the cabinet member responsible, said if the council decided to lift restrictions and then things went wrong it would have to get written consent from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) to reimpose them. After meeting emergency planners on Tuesday she decided to stick to her guns.

In fact, new restriction notices will be put up at entrances to rights of way all over the county on Monday to replace those torn down.

"We are surrounded by it," said Cllr Dewar. "You only need to look at the map. I don't know how long we can hold out."

But the council has no powers to force owners like the National Trust or the Forestry Commission to keep their properties closed.

Cllr Chapple said the two organisations were being pushed from above to open up their areas. He added that: "We are not. We are there to help our 2,400 farmers who are the custodians of the countryside."

Public attractions planning to open have been advised about precautions. Visitors would be expected to stick to roads and not use public rights of way.

With the crisis deepening the Government is now looking at vaccination as a way of eradicating the disease

But this carries problems.

Many countries refuse to import meat from a country which uses vaccination. Permission is needed from the European Union, though Holland has used vaccination. And the vaccine would only be good for one particular strain.

The virus was probably brought in through illegally imported meat from the Far East getting into pigswill. The Government is now considering banning pigswill.

It could also ban the movement of sheep for 20 days after sale.

Bockmer Farm at Medmenham, owned by Bob Newman, and under restrictions since March 15, while MAFF inspected animals, has now been cleared, The 8km exclusion zone around the farm which meant farms within it could not send their animals to the abattoir, has been lifted, as has a 3km one stopping farms moving animals or animal waste.

On Monday some Wycombe district councillors called for help for suffering rural communities.

Labour group leader Ted Collins said: "We should really show the way."

Cllr Alex Collingwood said if the council wanted to be trailblazers it needed information.

Paul Ricketts, director of corporate affairs for the council, said: "We are being advised by the DETR and if we can help within the powers we have, we will."

Venues still open to the public

High Wycombe Area:

The Hell Fire Caves at West Wycombe

Wycombe Museum

Hughenden Park

Home of Rest for Horses, in Speen

Roundwood Park

Castlefields Park

Downley Common

Flackwell Heath Golf Course

Marlow Area:

Higginson Park is open to the public, though Thames Path is still closed

Thames Valley Falconry Centre will be opening at the beginning of April

Stanley Spencer Gallery, in Cookham

Cliveden, National Trust, opened most of its areas to the public on March 28

Beaconsfield Area:

Bekonscot Model Village

Miltons Cottage

Amersham and Chesham Area:

Chesham Bois Common

Chiltern Open Air Museum will be opening most of its site on April 1

Chiltern Brewery

Roald Dahl Museum

Princes Risborough Area:

Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway

St Tiggywinkles visitor centre is closed but the hospital remains open

For more information, ring the local tourist centre:

High Wycombe (01494) 421892

Amersham (01494) 729492

Marlow (01628) 483597