THE Open Spaces Society is using the Prime Minister Theresa May’s return from her hiking holiday in the Alps to highlight the state of public paths.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the society urges her to stop the deterioration of rights of way through farms and private land which due to continuing local authority cuts, are deteriorating.

The society,which campaigns to protect common land and also speaks for walkers, riders and cyclists, says many paths are being ploughed out, cropped, obstructed or becoming overgrown and many authorities no longer have the staff to chase up those responsible.

It said “A small injection of funds would safeguard future walking and riding throughout our country. Post-Brexit we need a regime of agricultural support which ensures that farmers and landowners are penalised when they illegally block public paths.”

While welcoming the extensions to the Lake District and North Yorkshire Dales national parks the society says the national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty are subject to a variety of development pressures.

“Yet visitors who come to enjoy unspoilt landscapes provide vital support for the rural economy, and the park authorities have been able, even with their slender funds, to demonstrate how visitors and farmers can coexist in our most splendid landscapes,” the letter says.

The society concluded by offering to join the Prime Minister on a walk in or near her constituency in the Thames Valley, or to visit access land which the society helped to win close to Chequers.

“Finally, we hope you both reinvigorated by your walking holiday. Switzerland is a country heavily dependent on tourism. However, we believe that our attractions to tourists are just as great-and in need of being looked after.”