THE DARTMOOR National Park Authority has spelt out the do's and don'ts of visiting the area in the light of the Goverment's statement that 'the countryside is not closed'.

Dartmoor is wholly within a foot and mouth disease infected area, so all access land, common land and public rights of way are closed. But a spokesman said: ' This does not mean that Dartmoor National Park is not open for business.

'Very many villages, pubs, hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses are open as usual. All roads on Dartmoor remain open to traffic, and people can drive freely along tarmac roads.'

However he stresses that people should not get out of their vehicles if they are crossing unfenced common land, in order to avoid contact with livestock. He said there are three rules for people visiting Dartmoor:

Rule 1: Obey all 'keep out' and 'road closed' signs. Do not use footpaths and bridleways which remain legally closed.

Rule 2: Do not go near cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer or moorland ponies.

Rule 3: Do not go on any farmland or open country, including access land which remains legally closed, and which may have been used by grazing animals.