THE countryside service has begun a campaign to get as many visitors as possible to return to Ilkley Moor, which was closed for seven months last year because of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

It is part of the 'Government's Your Countryside - You're Welcome' week which is encouraging people to take advantage of the end of access restrictions up and down the country.

Sometimes the fortunate citizens of Ilkley forget how lucky they are to have such a beautiful wide open space on their doorstep, and it takes a shock like the one we all experienced last year to fully realise the benefits it brings and how much we would miss it.

Whether it's a short Sunday afternoon stroll from the Cow and Calf car park, or an intrepid hike across the watershed to the Aire Valley, Ilkley Moor is one of the greatest free tourist attractions in the country.

Bradford Council countryside officers have been urging everyone who found an alternative place to walk or exercise their dogs last year to return to the much more impressive moor.

But for some walkers and visitors, the return of dogs on the moor is not quite as welcome as we might expect.

Everyone expects a certain level of animal droppings in the countryside, especially on a moor containing sheep and a multitude of smaller creatures, but what could be very pleasant pathways are often transformed into hazardous, smelly obstacle courses because of irresponsible dog owners.

People should be encouraged to take home all their rubbish from the countryside including that left by their pet. If that happens on a large scale, visitors find that the moor has not simply re-opened, it has also improved.