A horse rider has vowed to continue fighting a decision to ban riders from a recreational ground in Thackley.

Christine Hardaker, of the British Horse Society, put together a petition of more than 150 names in the hope Bradford Council would overturn the ban, in place on Birkhill Recreational Ground since last summer.

But earlier this month Bradford councillors voted to uphold its position to keep policy consistent with that in other parks across the district.

The Council first adopted the site as an official recreation ground in 2010. Last summer it installed a sign at the entrance banning horses, with officers claiming bylaws governing recreational ground prohibited the animals from public parks.

But Mrs Hardaker argued the land had been used by riders for decades, and they should still be allowed on it because of this historic use.

Nearby riding schools and stables signed her petition, but members of the Council’s Bradford East Area Committee rejected their pleas when the issue came before them.

Committee members said allowing horses there would open the floodgates for horse riders to use other Council-run parks and fields.

Mrs Hardaker has now lodged a complaint with the Council, and is so sure she can prove riders have a legal right to use the field she is prepared to take it to the local government ombudsman.

She said: “Councillors seemed dead set against us using horses on that site.

“It is so undemocratic, they are against horses on here for no good reason.”