JUST two tests for foot and mouth are all that stands in the way of large tracts of southern Dartmoor being re-opened.

The results are expected shortly and if they show the two farms, previously infected, are now all clear, MAFF could well re-draw its Infected Area Boundary allowing the Dartmoor National Park Authority to re-open a large expanse of the wilderness.

It was announced last week that July 1 had been set as the deadline for the complete re-opening of Dartmoor, supposing there are no new cases within 10km of the moor.

'In the meantime,' said a park spokesman, 'full advantage will be taken for re-opening access opportunities on land which any contraction of the Infected Area Boundary, or subsequent Government advice allow.'

This week the park announced new areas opening up including Bellever Forest and Tor, a small south west extremity of Roborough Down, Ramshorn Down, a small area of common near Chagford, Stiniel Down, Maldon Hill, Week Down, Morden Down, further access land at the back of Burrator Arboretum and about 40 additional rights of way in the south and east of Dartmoor. Full details available from the hotline on 01822 890414, 10-5, 7 days a week or the DNPA website.

The Sunday Rover public transport service will also be starting this weekend, which allows access to Bellever by bus.

The July 1 deadline was set during a meeting last week organised by the DNPA. Representatives from local tourism associations, SW tourism, the Dartmoor Commoners' Council, the NFU, MOD and MAFF reaffirmed their 'complete support for each other and their on-going co-operation, both in eradicating the disease and in striving for the earliest reopening of access opportunities', said a park spokesman.

He said top priority remained the completion of blood-testing of sheep in the so-called 'hotspots' — areas previously infected. Any positive tests would lead to a reappraisal of the proposed opening. The July date also depends on there being no further outbreaks of the disease within 10km of the park.

l Devon County Council is planning to open miles of footpaths for the Bank Holiday and school's half term.

County environment director Ed Chorlton said: 'Our aim is to re-open larger areas of Devon outside the affected zones and we also hope to re-open the whole of the South and East Devon coastal path network.Our ambition is to add significantly to the 220 routes we have already re-opened despite being one of the counties worst affected by foot and mouth.

But the CLA — the Country Land and Business Association, formerly the Country Landowners' Association, accused the county council of running a dangerous risk.

'The last thing the county needs is any risk of a resurgence in foot and mouth disease,' said regional director Tim Brooks.

'We fully appreciate the need to re-open the countryside to help our beleaguered tourist industry and other recreation-based businesses, but we must not do so in a way that could run the risk of putting us right back to square one. In an area heavily populated with livestock and which has been one of high infectivity we should proceed with extreme caution.'

He said the county council was proposing a 'blanket' re-opening of rights of way and he accused it of failing to address critical concerns.

Maps showing the current public access on Dartmoor and throughout Devon can be viewed at Devon County Council's website:— http://www.devon.gov.uk">www.devon.gov.uk

l Six miles of walks through the Buckland Abbey estate have been re-opened.