The full re-opening of Dartmoor National Park has been delayed because of continuing fears about foot and mouth disease. A spokesman for the local tourist industry has described the decision as a 'grave disappointment'. More than 60 per cent of Dartmoor has already been re-opened to visitors. The park authority decision to keep part of Dartmoor closed was taken yesterday, after strong arguments from farmers that the move would be premature. Foot and mouth antibodies had been detected in a recent blood test from sheep close to the northern fringes of Dartmoor. The retained closure has caused dismay in the tourist industry. Some businesses on Dartmoor have reported an 80 per cent fall in takings compared with last year. In mid-June Devon launched a tourism recovery plan to try to bring back visitors driven away by foot and mouth restrictions. The proposed date to re-open the national park is 14 July.
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