Number of closed sites remaining

Powys: 50 sites, more than half in the Brecon Beacons Monmouthshire: 9 sites still to open Most are expected to open by early February

But while the rest of Britain has been officially declared free of foot-and-mouth after almost 11 months, the Welsh Assembly and the rural affairs ministry, Defra, blame each other for the delay in opening up the last of rights of way in Wales.

Ramblers and fell walkers said they have seen a "piecemeal approach" to the reopening of pathways and rights of way since access to the countryside was first to be shutdown at the start of the outbreak in February 2001.

In May, key routes up Snowdon were reopened in time for the May Bank Holiday.

In July the UK Rural Affairs Minister and Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael declared the countryside was "open for business" as usual when restrictions on many more footpaths were eased.

And in November the to Pen-y-fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons opened.

There's no reason why these footpaths should be closed

Carwyn Jones, Rural Affairs Minister

Throughout this period, Powys and Monmouthshire remained the two counties with the most number of closed footpaths - a situation which endures.

Although the number of closed footpaths is relatively small - 5% in Powys and 1% in Monmouthshire - they are concentrated in the most tourist-significant area, the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Both authorities and the Welsh Assembly attribute these closures to bio-security restrictions imposed by the new rural affairs ministry, Defra.

Farm premises linked to the disease outbreak have to be cleaned to a standard set by Defra and it is Defra which has to lift the restriction.

Rights of way alongside or through many of these premises have to be closed as well.

However, Defra insists the responsibility for lifting the restrictions in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

Carwyn Jones: Footpaths 'should not be closed'

Yet Assembly Rural Affairs Minister Carwyn Jones - whose department acts as Defra's agent in Wales - has called on councils to liaise more closely with the state veterinary service - a Defra body - to speed up the opening of rights of way.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, he said: "As far as we're concerned, there's no reason why these footpaths should be closed...

"As far as the beacons are concerned, we've not had a case there since the middle of August, I would urge the county councils to speak to the state veterinary service because it's important that we get these footpaths open as quickly as possible."

The confusion comes after the first agricultural show in the Welsh farming calendar has been cancelled.

Show cancelled

Organisers of the Llyn Agricultural Show have decided not to go ahead with the 2002 event because Defra officials are unable to tell them what rules and regulations they will have to follow in the wake of foot-and-mouth crisis.

Other bio security measures might also have to be followed but so far Defra have not said what these would be.

Meanwhile, the Farmers' Union of Wales has also called for the further relaxation of animal movement controls and the early reopening of livestock markets.