Tourist attractions reopen in NI

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is open to tourists in north Antrim

The National Trust in Northern Ireland has announced the re-opening of more of its properties which were closed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Derrymore House estate near Bessbrook in County Armagh is open and part of the Crom Estate in County Fermanagh will re-open on Sunday.

Other National Trust properties which have already re-opened include the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in north Antrim and Murlough National Nature Reserve in County Down.

A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers said the tourism and hospitality industry could be harder hit by the foot-and-mouth outbreak than some sectors of agriculture.

Figures from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board show that more than £200m of business could be at risk if the crisis continues into the summer.

Hoteliers have reported a drop in business by up to 50%.

The hospitality and tourism industry employs 35,000 people across Northern Ireland, and is worth £350m to the province.