RAMBLERS descended on Lancashire as new right to roam laws gave walkers an historic chance to explore the area.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act has legally opened up areas of open countryside and common land in South-East and North-West England for the first time.

Previously walkers would have had to stick to footpaths.

Boulsworth Hill and parts of the Forest of Bowland have been named in the top 10 new areas in the North-West to open to the public yesterday. .

Andrew Lees, 37, from Lancaster was out walking on Sunday in the Forest of Bowland. He said: "There are two sides to the right-to-roam argument.

"On the one hand, people should have the freedom to walk where they want in the countryside but people also have a right to privacy.

"If we can strike a balance between the two, I think walkers like myself will very much welcome the new rights."

Tony Butterfield, of Leyland, was also out walking the new access land in the Forest of Bowland.

He said: "I think it should be a privilege to roam, rather than a right to roam.

"But as long as people continue to treat the countryside with respect, I think the new legislation will be very welcome.

"The last thing we want is farmers finding rubbish everywhere. We have been given the right to roam and we have a responsibility to maintain that trust."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has campaigned for years on the issue and joined a ramblers' rally that walked from Haworth to Boulsworth Hill moors.

They took advantage of a change in the law to visit a rocky outcrop, called Alcomden Stones, for the first time legally.

The group then crossed previously private land to Ponden Kirk before heading back to Haworth.

The rally was organised by West Riding Ramblers' Association, the Access to Boulsworth campaign and Yorkshire Water.

Access and rights of way in the countryside have been an issue in England since James Bryce MP introduced the first bill for freedom to roam in 1884. The bill was reintroduced every year until 1914 and failed each time.

It was not until the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949 was passed that areas of the countryside were defined and more access became possible.

But large areas have remained un-walked because landowners had the legal right to the land.