Fears are growing that Ilkley could be losing tourist trade to rival towns following the closure of another hotel.

The Grove Hotel in the town centre has been sold to property developers - and follows in the wake of the closure of the Wheatley, the Moorview and Greystones.

Today Tim Edwards, owner of the Westwood Lodge Hotel, said the move had concerned Ilkley's business and tourism community.

"I'm seriously worried at the decline in the number of rooms and bed spaces in Ilkley," he said. "Just about half of Ilkley's hotels seem to have closed down over the last year and a half, and they all seem to be going for housing.

"If this keeps happening, Ilkley is just going to end up as a dormitory commuter town with no overnight guests.

"People will end up having to stay in Skipton or Harrogate instead and that will mean a big loss for the businesses and restaurants of Ilkley."

Grove Hotel manager Lynne Ratcliffe, who has run the business for three years, said the time had come to move on. "It was a personal decision to move on and go and do something different with our lives.

"It's been a good venture here and it's a shame it's going to be a property development because it's been a superb hotel, but it's just one of those things," she said.

Planning permission for change of use for The Grove from a hotel to three residential flats was granted in 2000.

Ilkley Parish Council's Tourism Committee chairman Mike Gibbons said he regretted the development and feared it marked another blow for the town's tourism industry.

"We have already had the likes of the Wheatley closing and this is another facility lost to the town, which is sad.

"I agree that there is a possibility that with the reduction in the numbers of beds available, visitors may need to seek accommodation elsewhere.

"This would be very regrettable as I'm sure the local shops and restaurants, particularly in the evening, benefit from some visitors staying over."