Tourism bosses today warned that the foot-and-mouth crisis could devastate the holiday trade in Sussex.

Many outdoor visitor attractions have already closed and it could be weeks before they reopen.

Fred Cubbage, managing director of the South East Tourist Board, said tourism was vital for the county's economy.

But there were fears that foreign visitors could decide to give Sussex a wide berth as they plan their summer holidays.

Mr Cubbage said cancellations, especially in rural areas, were already being reported and the industry was bracing itself for a bad year.

He said: "My concern is for the viability of those small hotels and bed and breakfasts if this continues, and for the visitor attractions."

There have been no foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Sussex, but farmers were alarmed by reports of the disease in Kent.

Amanda Shepherd, head of tourism at Brighton and Hove Council, said if foreign visitors were put off from coming to Britain it would be bad news for the city's holiday trade.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "Foot and mouth is a very serious situation for many people in my constituency, those in the haulage industry, farm workers and all those who work in the countryside where tourism is important."

"People are going to go out of business and they need to be helped."

Hove MP Ivor Caplin met senior tourism leaders at Westminster today.

He said they had advised the Government to promote Britain as a whole with an advertising campaign once the disease had been eradicated.

Meanwhile, the Sussex countryside was virtually deserted after public footpaths across farmland were closed and the South Downs Way national trail ruled out-of-bounds to walkers and mountain bikers.

Staff at Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, which shut on March 6 because of the crisis, are already counting the cost.

More than 5,000 people would have flocked through the doors over the past week, so closure had cost up to £25,000 in revenue.

A spokeswoman said: "In line with a lot of people, we are run by what the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food say. We do not know when it will reopen."

Visitors to Borde Hill Garden, near Haywards Heath, are being asked to call before turning up as the crisis deepens.

The parkland and woods at the centre are closed and disinfectant mats have been put down.

The adventure playground and fishing lakes remain open to the public but the situation is being monitored.

This month's Hailsham's Farmers' Market has been cancelled. Co-organiser Janet Dann said: "Although the nearest outbreak to us is in north Kent, farmers and producers are all on tenterhooks.

"East Sussex is a very rural area and if it does reach here then the effects would be devastating."

Lewes District Council has stopped the public going on to Seaford Head and closed the golf course.

Drusillas Zoo Park at Alfriston, near Polegate, has lost thousands of pounds in trade after being forced to close.

A spokeswoman said: "We are looking at the position every day and while it does not look very positive at the moment we are looking at a possible weekend reopening."

Access has been restricted to areas around Belle Tout and Beachy Head, with part of Birling Gap affected as well.