ROAD works in Rawdon have been put on ice because of the foot and mouth crisis.

Workmen repairing a section of wall along Layton Road needed to get into fields next to the road - but have been banned because of fears of spreading the virus.

Now the work, which has been going on since October last year, is expected to take even longer with the whole road being closed to

traffic for around five weeks.

Work initially involved the repair of a section of retaining wall. Once work began, the embankment continued to collapse, raising concerns for the safety of the workmen.

Work was stopped while arrangements were made for

workmen to work from adjacent fields. Now, once the outbreak is over the work will start again - but will be far more extensive than originally thought.

Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Aireborough) said: "Once it was clear that the repairs were not going to be straight forward, the highways department had to design a more appropriate scheme and go out to tender on the works which have been programmed for next month.

"Now, after all this time, the whole thing may be put on ice because of foot and mouth disease. It is very frustrating for all.

"Worse though is yet to come because once work starts Layton Road will be closed to all traffic except for pedestrians for about five weeks. Bus services will have to be diverted onto the A65 via Layton Lane and West End Lane."

The road has been reduced to single traffic since November.

Coun Fox added: "It's just one of those things really outside anyone's control but at least we now know what the reason is. Everyone will have to be patient for another couple of months in the hope the foot and mouth crisis is resolved before too long."

But Coun Brian Cleasby (Lib Dem, Horsforth) added that Rawdon was being log-jammed. "The village has standing traffic all the way back to the Emmott Arms as a result of the council's activity.

"They've had at least six months to get this problem sorted. There is almost certainly going to be an accident there if they don't at the very least sort out the traffic lights, which don't seem to work on a regular basis.

Coun Cleasby said he had

written to Leeds City Council leader Coun Brian Walker and the chief executive about the matter.

"In Horsforth and Rawdon they seem content to take their money off you in the form of council tax, but they aren't investing it back into the area."