'Fine walkers who flout ban' - Brown

Councils have been given powers to stop walkers

Local authorities have been urged to prosecute individuals who increase the risks of foot-and-mouth disease spreading further by walking through restricted parts of the countryside.

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said he had given powers to local authorities to allow them to restrict public access to certain areas in light of the outbreak of the disease.

If people won't obey the law it is perfectly permissible to call the police

Nick Brown

His comments came after Prime Minister Tony Blair told MPs at question time that the foot-and-mouth disaster was "a bitter and unfair blow" to UK farmers.

Speaking later, in a special Commons debate on the crisis, Mr Brown said there had been examples of people continuing to walk through high-risk areas despite being asked to leave by farmers or council officials.

He said: "In those circumstances I urge local authorities to take their name and addresses and prosecute them."

Mr Brown's statement came in response to a questions from backbench Tory MP Christopher Gill.

'Convince the public'

He told the minister he had heard of a recent incident where a group of walkers from Leicester had travelled more than 90 miles to stroll through "intensive sheep country" despite warnings that they should stay away.

He urged Mr Brown "to do a lot more" to convince the public to stay away.

Mr Brown has pledged to eradicate the disesase

Mr Brown replied: "We have devolved the power to the local authorities so that they can use it. If they use it, it has the power of law.

"If people won't obey the law it is perfectly permissible to call the police."

He added: "Local authorities have been given the power to declare prohibited areas and close footpaths in and around farms.

"I urge local authorities to prosecute people who argue about it. We are beyond argument."

Tony Blair had told sombre MPs that foot-and-mouth disease would be eradicated as quickly as possible.

The prime minister praised farmers for the way "they have rallied around" during the crisis.

He said the government was doing everything it could do to help farmers and recognised the problems they were facing.

"We will carry on working with the farming industry and representatives to give them every opportunity to have a future."

He added: "It is very important to recognise they need our support, not just as people who produce the food we eat but also as the custodians of our countryside."

'A bitter blow'

Conservative leader William Hague described the outbreak as a bitter blow for farmers and said he supported the steps being taken to tackle the disease.

Mr Hague said: "Rural communities have been plunged into crisis by the foot-and-mouth disease."

He added: "We support all the measures the government has taken."

Mr Blair pledged to end the crisis

Liberal Democrats leader Charles Kennedy urged the government to take action to ensure meat supplies were continuing to get through to supermarkets.

He said farmers wanted information "sooner rather than later".

Mr Blair said details of a special licence scheme to allow farmers to send uninfected animals to slaughter would be announced on Friday.

Mr Hague also praised the decision to by the Countryside Alliance to postpone its planned demonstration in London in March.

But his suggestion that the controversial bill banning hunting with dogs should be put on ice was dismissed by Mr Blair.