Fire stations in Otley and Rawdon have been saved after a proposal to shut them was scrapped.

The two stations were to have closed under plans to relocate to Menston - but West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was forced to think again after it struggled to find a suitable site.

And today, both stations were given a reprieve after the authority accepted a recommendation to abandon the Menston plan.

The fire service said it had revised its plans because of difficulties in finding a suitable site for a new station in Menston.

It pledged that the Otley and Rawdon stations would not only stay open but would now benefit from investment in the longer term.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Steve Beckley, said: "I’m sure that people who live in the locality of Otley and Rawdon will be pleased by this decision and we look forward to investing in these stations to ensure they remain fit for purpose for the future."

Otley and Yeadon council Colin Campbell said the news would reassure the many residents who were concerned about the plan.

Horsforth councillor Chris Townsley, who is leader of the Lib Dem Group on the WYFRA said: "This has taken some hard work over the last few years but I am glad that the Authority has been able to come up with a workable alternative, which will leave our stations where they are."