CAR drivers are having to pay out hundreds of pounds in repairs because of 'vicious' speed humps at Burley Woodhead, it was claimed this week.

Ben Rhydding resident John Godden says wear and tear caused by speed bumps in the 20 miles per hour zone on Moor Road has left him with a £200 bill for car repairs.

His Mercedes car has had to have new front suspension springs fitted - which he blames on damage caused by driving over the series of 11 bumps twice a day. He used the Moor Road on his way to walk his dogs on Otley Chevin while roadworks were under way on the busy A65.

Mr Godden, 68, has sent a copy of his repairs bill to Bradford Council's highways department, complaining that something must be done about the controversial speed bumps as drivers using the road are having to pay for damage to their cars.

"This damage was caused by my driving twice a day over the vicious speed bumps that have been placed on the moor road at Burley Woodhead," said Mr Godden.

"I was always careful to go over the bumps at less than 20 miles per hour but they still contributed to this damage. I feel very strongly that the impact of these bumps on the vehicles should be reduced, as they are no doubt costing local motorists a lot of money."

He says staff at the garage he took his car to had seen a number of similarly-damaged vehicles, caused by the same speed bumps.

The Moor Road speed bumps came in for a knocking from Ilkley residents not long after they were put up.

People complained that drivers and passengers with back injuries and older people with arthritis found it painful to cross the speed bumps.

Some complained that the restrictions were leading to more congestion on Leeds Road and other roads through Ilkley, as motorists changed routes to avoid the traffic calming.

But Bradford Council highways officers maintained that the bumps were within the requirements for 20 miles per hour traffic calming.

There was also an accusation that the bumps - brought in following a petition by residents of Burley Woodhead - were an attempt by Burley residents to cut down on traffic using their roads.

A Bradford Council highways spokesman said: "The road humps were installed a year ago on Moor Road to create a 20 miler per hour zone, following concerns from residents in Burley Woodhead about the large numbers of cars speeding on the road.

"The humps are similar in design to those used throughout the district for traffic calming and should not cause any damage to cars if drivers are travelling within the 20 miles per hour limit."