THE process to reopen Devon's remaining closed footpaths has begun.
Devon County Council, responding to DEFRA's recent lifting of the blanket restrictions in the county, is now writing to more than 3,000 livestock farmers and plans to open the vast majority of paths by August 11.
Paths crossing farms still subject to individual DEFRA restrictions will remain closed.
A council spokesman said more than 95 per cent of the network was expected to be open by that date. Any that were not would be clearly labelled with a red closed notice.
People going into the countryside are reminded not to go anywhere near livestock, nor allow their own animals to do so; to begin the walk with clean equipment; use disinfectant where provided and to stay on the path, leaving gates as they were found.
Full details of path openings can be found on http://www.devon.gov.uk">www.devon.gov.uk