Prime Minister Tony Blair came to Haworth to stress his belief that Britain's tourist trade was still open for business.

From the steps of the Bront Parsonage Museum he justified the need to keep the moorland out of bounds to walkers, but said there were still magnificent houses and homes to visit.

Keeping the balance between eradicating foot and mouth disease and the tourist industry afloat is not an easy task, especially with confusion reigning.

For example, on a gate in North Yorkshire one sign says the moor is closed due to the outbreak. Another sign next to it says businesses are open as usual.

We have a situation where the Government is saying one thing, local councils another, farmers in the middle, the opposition scoring points wherever possible and, according to Mr Blair, the issue is getting blown out of all proportion.

He told the world's media representatives that they were getting a false picture of the impact of the outbreak on the British countryside, adding they can do anything just as long as they stay away from livestock areas. If comments like that aren't adding to the confusion then what is?

How many people are going to put off coming to this area over Easter because they still don't know what they can and can't do? How many local families are going to be stuck for something to do because of the confusion - and the cost of of visiting attractions which are still open?

The fact is that this terrible disease has robbed many people of the simple pleasures of going for a walk, a run, a picnic or a cycle ride.

There must surely be dozens of places which can be safely opened and carefully monitored in non-affected areas. That way people would be attracted to tourist areas and would visit the shops, pubs and restaurants.