THE Army is offering 12 weekends free of firing at Warcop Training Area if a public inquiry rules in its favour.

The Army wants to buy the access and grazing rights to the fell-land ar Warcop Common to increase the amount of live firing carried out - but this is opposed by commoners and residents of nearby villages, who fear increased noise disruption and that the value of their homes will be affected.

If the inquiry rules in favour of the Army, it says it may also be willing to halt firing every Sunday afternoon.

James Gaskin, Army spokesman, told the Gazette: "At present public access to the training area is allowed only on Mondays.

However, we will move this access time to the weekends as feedback tells us that this fits in more ideally with the needs of the walkers.

This, though, is strictly on the condition that we are allowed to go ahead with the purchase of the rights."

Mr Gaskin said that the Army was continuing to meet with commoners and residents concerned about firing at Warcop.

"Discussions has been progressing and I hope that the 'disruption walks' reported earlier will not take place.

I have used these meetings to clear up a few points of which the public may not be aware.

We are not going to be closing any footpaths and, in fact, by moving the access periods from a Monday to the weekends we will be enhancing the accessability to the fell land."

The public meeting will take place at the Tufton Arms, Appleby, on April 24.