DOWNING Street is pressing for tourist attractions in parts of Worcestershire and Herefordshire unaffected by the foot-and-mouth crisis to be re-opened.

Prime Minister Tony Blair is worried that large parts of the country have been needlessly closed down - dealing a hammer blow to the £60bn tourism industry.

The Government was intending to make a statement to the Commons today on persuading people back to the countryside.

It was also planning a national advertising campaign later this week.

Organisations such as the National Trust and British Waterways have closed hundreds of tourist attractions across the country.

Yesterday, Michael Meacher - who is in charge of the Government's Rural Task Force - met local council bosses and BW officials to see if some of the restrictions could be relaxed.

"There needs to be a look at some of the restrictions people have put in place to see if they are truly necessary, rather than making general assumptions," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

"In huge parts of the country, there's no problem. It's important the general does not dictate the specific.

"Tourism is an important industry and this is an important time, with people making Easter bookings."

He added that decisions on whether to re-open tourist attractions were down the individual organisations.

But he said Ministers would "offer guidance".

Downing Street wants members of the public to work on the assumption they can visit the countryside unless they are told otherwise.

At present, people are taking the opposite view, with some even cancelling visits to see relatives.

"It's important that people make decisions based on what is actually happening," the spokesman said. "People are deciding not to go to the countryside when there are towns and villages they could visit."

However, Downing Street warned the end was not in sight for the worst affected areas.

"They face a long haul. People will have to be patient in what are very difficult circumstances."

But he added that the Prime Minister was in "no doubt that the approach we're taking is the only viable strategy. We have to see his through".

Downing Street said £50m - the full market value - had been paid in compensation to farmers who had slaughtered animals. The full details of the compensation package were still being agreed.