Half the footpaths in Britain are still closed, despite advice from scientists, government and anyone else with a pulse that walkers do not spread foot-and-mouth.

Why? An Independent article which interviews many of those involved points to a reluctance of Tory-controlled councils to open up paths which they never liked having anyway. The councils say that it's not that at all - though quite what it is, they can't say.

Our advice is that if footpaths are closed in an area which does not suffer foot-and-mouth, make a big noise about it with the council; and us. Email us any time.