A village is celebrating after winning its battle for conservation status.

A large chunk of Menston is now set to be protected after councillors formally agreed to approve a conservation area.

And an existing protected zone in Burley-in-Wharfedale has had some of its boundaries changed to incorporate new areas.

In order to fulfil legal obligations the proposal will now be advertised but this final stage in the process is expected to be a formality.

The decision, taken at a joint meeting of the Shipley Area Planning Panel and the Shipley Area Committee, on Tuesday, is the culmination of a campaign lasting several years.

Menston Village Design Statement Group has been pushing for the creation of a conservation area for more than three years.

And yesterday the decision to give approval was welcomed by the chairman of the village community association Peter Ward.

He said: "It is something that we have been working for some time. We think it is important that we should have a conservation area that recognises that we have an area of special interest architecturally and historically in the village."

Mr Ward said the push for a conservation area had begun with the Menston Village Design Statement and the consultation process which underpinned it.

Local people have turned out in force to give their backing to the proposals at meetings in the village.

Rombalds councillor Chris Greaves has also backed the calls for a conservation area and voted in favour of the proposals at Tuesday's meeting.

He said: "The thing about conservation area status is that it doesn't stop development, but it means that development has to be in keeping.

"This applies not only to the conservation area itself but also to anything you can see from it. It is like a halo outside the area which also gets protection."

The protected area will be centred on the heart of the village, but two other areas, Walker's Road, and Dicks Garth, may be considered for inclusion after a five year review.

In the meantime Coun Greaves said anyone in those two roads considering improvements to their properties would be offered guidance. But he stressed that no-one would be forced to carry out any work.

Changes to Burley's conservation area have been welcomed by its community council.

Under the terms of the new proposals, which are also to be advertised, the cricket field will now be included in the established protected zone. Three other fields will also be included, but an area of land which now forms part of the by-pass will be taken out.