FIRE chiefs and land owners have drawn up an action plan for tackling a major blaze on Skiddaw because of concern over fire risks following the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

The plan details an emergency call-out system, contact numbers, rendezvous points, availability of help from mountain rescue teams, risk assessments and a plan of the area.

The Lake District National Park and landowners have compiled the plan with Cumbria Fire Service, whose divisional officer John Holmes, said: "There may be a greater risk of fires in the countryside this year because the foot-and-mouth cull means vegetation has not been grazed, and anything we can do to share expertise and knowledge of different locations will help the emergency services."

NPA ranger Colin Eastham added: "As well as the public safety implications, the environmental consequences of a big fire on Skiddaw could be dreadful.

It's a site of special scientific interest and has many wildlife habitats of national significance, including the largest area of heather moorland in the National Park."

The Fire Plan takes account of the controlled burning of heather carried out in the winter to keep the moorland at its best for wildlife.

It has been developed in agreement with landowners, shooting tenant, gamekeepers and graziers.