TOURISM bosses have been forced to close their information centre a month early -- because all the tourists have stayed away due to foot and mouth.

The Pendle Borough Council-run information centre in Barley was due to switch to its winter hours on November 1.

But because of the foot and mouth restrictions, tourists have been thin on the ground and the centre has closed early.

Instead of opening seven days a week, the centre is now open just at weekends.

Manager Maureen Roberts said: "There have been no tourists because of foot and mouth. It has been dead here during the summer."

The temporary staff employed during the summer season will now be laid off with Maureen manning the centre on her own.

Although no new cases of foot and mouth have been confirmed in the area for more than two months, government officials are being cautious.

Certain parts of the country and county have had their restrictions lifted leading to confusion among walkers.

Maureen said many still turned up at Pendle Hill, the area's most popular attraction, only to be turned away.

She said: "I have to tell them they are not allowed to walk up and send them somewhere else. People think that all the countryside is open when only parts of it are."

The biggest casualty of foot and mouth has been the annual Hallowe'en celebrations, which have had to be cancelled.

Officials from the Department for Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said they wanted to ensure that blood tests give the area's livestock and cattle the all-clear before re-opening the area -- which could take another two months.

Licensees will lose out on the busiest night of their year in addition to the reduction in trade since the disease took hold.

And Lancashire County Council will make sure DEFRA's restrictions are kept by deploying officers to patrol the area throughout the night.

Maureen said: "That is a real shame but they have to be safe. Hallowe'en is a really big thing for Pendle. Everybody is really disappointed."