Crisis in Wales

Total confirmed cases UK-wide 1,570 - with 92 in Wales Powys - 56 cases Anglesey - 13 cases Monmouthshire - 16 cases Caerphilly 1 Rhondda Cynon Taff - 1 Neath Port Talbot -1 Newport - 3

While many areas of Wales reported a rise visitor numbers last weekend Powys remains badly affected by the foot-and-mouth.

More than half of the 92 confirmed cases of the disease in Wales have been within the county and the stranglehold of the virus on the areas economy remains tight.

However councillors face a difficult decision many businesses want the 10,000 kms of paths in the area to reopen but farmers are concerned about the further spread of the virus.

Financial ruin

Tourism operators want them reopened immediately to try to save many businesses which are currently facing financial ruin.

But many of the footpaths go directly through farmland - and farmers are worried increased access at this stage could lead to a spread of the infection.

We have to help the industry get aggressively back into the marketplace and we also have to ensure that the industry reinvents itself into a leaner, keener machine more able to cope with any future crises

WTB Chief Executive, Jonathan Jones

In Ceredigion in west Wales the council has retained a ban on walking on public footpaths throughout the area - despite the fact that there has been no cases of foot-and-mouth in the county.

Earlier this week the Wales Tourist Board (WTB) published details of an in-depth study into the effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis on tourism across Wales.

The organisation again urged the assembly to provide an urgent �10m recovery fund to help stimulate the industry.

WTB Chief Executive Jonathan Jones said foot-and-mouth was the "worst ever" crisis to hit the industry.

The study indicates that 75% of businesses who responded have a lost of 60% in their sales revenue.

The WTB argue that the �10m support package being called for would help to pay for advertising to bring back "stayaway" visitors to key tourism areas in north, mid south and west Wales.

Jonathan Jones said: "On the positive side, the results also confirm that the measures put forward by WTB to the National Assembly for Wales for their consideration are the right ones for the industry.

"We have to help the industry get aggressively back into the marketplace and we also have to ensure that the industry reinvents itself into a leaner, keener machine more able to cope with any future crises."