FARMERS who may be ploughing following cereal harvest are reminded by the Country Landowners Association about the rules regarding footpaths and bridleways on their land:

do not plough or disturb field-edge rights of way or cross-field paths and bridleways which can be easily avoided

restore cross-field paths which cannot be conveniently avoided and for which there is a statutory right to plough, within the legal time limit of 14 days of the first disturbance and 24 hours of any subsequent disturbance

seek permission from the local authority before disturbing the surface of a path during excavation or engineering work

make sure that crops to do not grow on, or overhang, the minimum width of the right of way (field-edge paths 1.5 metres; field-edge bridleways three metres; cross-field paths one metre; cross-field bridleways two metres).