Bosses at Cheshire County Council confirmed on Monday that the foot-and-mouth crisis was costing the park about £17,000 a week - with little sign of it reopening before Easter.

"It is normally our first big opportunity in the high season, but to suggest it is critical would be a mistake," said manager Brendan Flanagan.

An emergency meeting was held on Monday to discuss the continued closure of the park which shut three weeks ago to protect the estate's deer and farm animals.

After the meeting, bosses confirmed that the future of the park, which suffered £74,000 losses last year, was safe.

But a spokesman could not predict whether Knutsford's taxpayers would be expected to help pick up the bill in next year's council tax demands.

"We have not had time to ascertain whether it will affect council tax and we won't know until the end of the year when we come to assess the budget," he said.

As the number of confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease spiralled to more than 300 this week, it also emerged that the Cheshire Show - due to be held in Tabley in June - could be cancelled.

If the £500,000 event is postponed, it will be a blow to Knutsford hotels and bed and breakfast establishments which have already been affected by the crisis.

"It is a distinct possibility," said show secretary David Broster.

"A final decision has not been made yet, but it will be within the next two weeks."