RAMBLERS looking for a good walk over the Easter weekend have been promised that more routes will be open.

The north of the borough has been hardest hit by the foot and mouth crisis, the biggest casualty being the annual Good Friday Act of Witness walk up Holcombe Hill.

However, elsewhere in the borough restrictions have been relaxed, and it is now possible to go into more areas of the countryside.

These include the following parks:

Prestwich Forest Park: including Philips Park, Drinkwater Park, Mere Clough and Prestwich Clough.

Outwood: including the Ruckreim sculptures and the Millennium woodland.

Springwater Park.

Burrs Country Park: but not the path beyond Castlesteads weir or the path over the railway to Touch Road Farm.

Nuttall Park.

Old Kays Park.

The walk around Elton Reservoir.

The following trails are also open:

The Outwood Trail: but not via Carters Hill, Yew Tree or Lower Heaps.

The Kirklees Trail: but not via Brandlesholme Hall Farm.

Bentley Hall Road, Ainsworth.

Meanwhile, the Manchester, Bolton, Bury Canal towpath is closed for re-surfacing until the end of May.

A circular walk in Ramsbottom is possible, taking in Nuttall Park, Starling Street, Brooksbottom, Woodhey, Holcombe Old Road, Holcombe Village and the Rake.

Countryside officers say that about two-thirds of the borough's rights of way network is open. But continuous walking routes are limited because of the number of path closures.

Ramblers are asked to respect the access restrictions and to stay away from livestock.

A programme of countryside events is available at local libraries and at Bury's Tourist Information Centre.