PLEASURE boats at Otley will not make their traditional Easter return to the river this weekend - and possibly not for the rest of the year.

The city council's leisure services department is currently negotiating with its property wing over the boating rights.

And although it hopes boats will return to the river by the summer, the last boat operator claims the council has yet to put out tenders.

David Asquith, who has run the boats for almost ten years said he was waiting for tenders to be put out.

Last year because of the foot and mouth crisis the boats were not seen on the river from Easter to the end of the summer. The city council took the opportunity to make repairs to the landing stage where the boats operate.

Now, Jessica Simpson, who owns Parkgate Stores at the entrance to Wharfemeadows Park, said it would be a great blow if the boats did not return to the river.

"It is a great shame that the boats won't be here, my business will obviously miss them."

Mrs Simpson added: "There must be something the council could do to help get them back, it would be a wonderful thing for the area. We had a devastating year after foot and mouth. There were no boats, no show and no carnival."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council's leisure services department said: "We are currently negotiating with the Leeds Development Agency for boating rights this summer."