THE Government looks set to introduce tough new restrictions on farm movements and to close recently-opened footpaths in parts of South Lakeland.

As the Gazette went to press last night (Thursday), ministers in Whitehall were believed to be determining whether or not to give DEFRA the powers to extend the Penrith Spur Biosecurity Intensification Area.

If adopted, the new boundary is expected to reach as far south as the M6

at Crooklands and the Plumgarths roundabout north of Kendal and will protect the densely-stocked areas of South Cumbria and the rare breeds and hill farms of the Howgills.

The changes are not thought to be in response to an identified danger facing the south of the county, but are part of a ' belt-and-braces' approach to keeping the virus out.

If DEFRA gets the go-ahead, some footpaths opened at the start of August will again be closed and even the most basic farm movements of machinery from field to field will need to be licensed.

Gordon Capstick, a South Lakeland farmer and county chairman of Cumbria NFU, said: "They are just very, very frightened that it will jump out of the Penrith Spur.

If it gets to Kendal it will be right down through South Cumbria and into Lancashire."

Mr Capstick called on the Government to offer the area's farmers a fair buy-up scheme to help them move stock from their farms to avoid a looming welfare disaster when feed on farms runs out altogether.

l There were 11 new cases of foot-and-mouth in the Penrith Spur this week.