Farmers fears over foot and mouth disease were fuelled again over the weekend as another case was confirmed in North Yorkshire.

They are worried that as more footpaths open in the county, the risk of the disease spreading south from the North York Moors, and east from Settle, could increase.

MAFF vets have identified another case of foot and mouth disease in the Whitby area, at Leaholm Lawns Farm, Houlsyke.

The village is in between the sites of previous outbreaks at Ruswarp, near Whitby, in April, and Westerdale, where there were two cases earlier this month.

Animals at the farm will now be slaughtered.

The latest case brings the total number in the Whitby area to four since the outbreak began and the total in North Yorkshire to 86.

Derek Watson, York county chairman for the National Farmers' Union (NFU), who is based at West Knapton, said: "Every outbreak is a cause for concern and it's a couple of weeks since we had the last one."

He said the main issue for farmers now was increasing concern about footpaths opening up.

"The worry is that when we didn't have foot and mouth in Yorkshire, the footpaths were all closed.

"Now we've got it in the county it's creeping down the A19 towards the Vale of York and south from the North York Moors towards Ryedale and the Vale of Pickering, the footpaths are opening up.

"I'm sure nobody would be as insensitive as to go to Westerdale or Settle then walk in other areas.

"The danger is that they could walk on footpaths some miles away before the farmer knows they've got the disease and could spread it unwittingly to other farms that day. That is the danger.

"But we realise tourism is in tremendous bother. It's a difficult one."

He said he hoped walkers and farmers continued to take precautions.

Helen Swiers, who farms near Scarborough, said: "Everybody is still feeling very nervous. It's the way it pops up, you can never be absolutely sure that you're going to be OK. You don't know where it's going to pop up next.

"More footpaths are opening up now and it's the first time I've seen cyclists and walkers near Hackness on a Sunday this year.

"I would ask people to try and be as sensible as possible and keep away from livestock."

Updated: 09:02 Monday, June 25, 2001