A new ban on a pesticide could leave walkers at a higher risk of contracting a debilitating disease, a health charity has warned.

The herbicide Asulam has been used by farmers to control the invasive spread of bracken, one of the favourite habitats for ticks. The insects can transmit harmful illnesses including the potentially disabling Lyme disease.

But the chemical has recently been banned by the EU, and Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness UK (BADA-UK) is urging walkers to be vigilant when the bracken resurfaces this spring.

BADA-UK's patron is survival expert Ray Mears. He said: "The control of bracken is vital to the survival of numerous species of flora and fauna as well as reducing tick populations.

"The spread of bracken as a result of this ban will lead to increased tick numbers making it all the more important that the public takes precautions against tick bites when out and about in rural areas.”

The charity warns that cases of Lyme disease are on the increase along with a rise in the tick population and its distribution.

Ticks are second only to mosquitoes for carrying disease to humans worldwide. In the UK in 2010 there were 1,361 laboratory-confirmed cases of tick-borne Lyme disease, a 24.4% increase on 2009. The Health Protection Agency estimates a further 1,000-2,000 cases go unrecorded each year.

The charity advises that the best defense against tick-borne infection is to avoid being bitten in the first place by taking precautions when out walking.

These include wearing suitable clothing that prevent ticks from accessing the body such as gaiters, or tucking long trousers into socks. It also recommends choosing clothes with elastic or drawstrings at the waist, wrist and ankle to  deter ticks from crawling under clothes and attaching to the skin. Clothing made from smooth or waxed material is hard for ticks to climb whilst light-coloured fabrics make it easier to spot a tick. 

A sub-class of spider, ticks feed on blood by burying themselves into their host's skin. A tick remover device is the best way to extract them, as an incorrect removal can leave body parts still buried.

The charity recommends carrying a tick remover as well as using an effective insect repellent before setting out, walking in the centre of paths to avoid over hanging vegetation where ticks may be waiting, and performing regular tick checks.

It also recommends using an effective insect repellent before setting out, walking in the centre of paths to avoid overhanging vegetation where ticks may be waiting, and performing regular tick checks.

Wendy Fox, Chair of BADA-UK says: "We understand, perhaps better than most the devastating effects that tick-borne diseases can have, therefore we strive to help prevent others from falling victim to them.

"People who frequent bracken-rich areas can be recreationally exposed to tick-borne disease, particularly Lyme disease. Increased interest in outdoor pursuits, combined with an increasing tick population is resulting in a year-on-year rise in cases of tick-borne disease."

 For more information on Tick Bite Prevention Week, which runs from March 26 to April 1, see this website.