Plans have been drawn up to close Richmond Park to the public if the foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey spreads.

The park's deer are prone to the disease and it is believed that the park was originally told to close by officials from Defra after the infection broke out.

That decision was over-ruled by senior Government officials at an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday.

Staff at the park have been working to prepare it for possible closure or restricted access after a second case of the disease in Surrey was confirmed yesterday (Tuesday).

Richmond MP Susan Kramer even went so far as to issue a press release yesterday calling for the park to be re-opened as soon as possible, even though it had not been shut. She swiftly said that the release had been sent in error.

Bruce Sparrow from the Royal Parks Foundation said: "The Royal Parks take foot and mouth disease very seriously and we are monitoring the ongoing situation closely. We are liaising with Defra and stand ready to take whatever necessary action is advised."

A Defra spokeswoman said that it was now not advising the park to close but that officials were in constant communication with the Royal Parks in case the situation changed.

Foot and mouth is a highly contagious disease that can affect cloven-hoofed animals In February 2001, Richmond Park closed to the public for seven weeks when a foot and mouth panic swept the country.

Only the Roehampton and Ham gates remained open to allow essential members of staff and park residents, such as Princess Alexandra and the 400 pupils of the Royal Ballet School, to get in.

All vehicles and anyone entering the park had to follow a strict disinfectant procedure.