IRATE residents are demanding immediate action to improve an area of canal towpath they say is "dangerous and almost impassable".

And householders in Broughton Road, Skipton, are planning a demonstration at the Canal and River Trust headquarters in Wigan to protest against what they branded "a great injustice".

More than 500 residents have signed a petition calling on the trust and Craven District Council to fund improvements to the well-used path, which they claim is at its worst on the stretch from Brewery Lane.

Matters have come to a head after improvements to the canal towpath from Gallows Bridge, near Skipton's bus station, towards Bradley were announced, even though, say residents, it is in better condition than the stretch from Brewery Lane in the other direction along Broughton Road.

Campaigners have been pushing for several years for improvements to the half-mile stretch from Sawley Street to Aireville Bridge.

Skipton West Labour councillor, Peter Madeley, is part of the campaign. He said Broughton Road residents are "going ballistic".

He added: "They want action and they want it now."

Nick Smith, enterprise manager at the Canal and River Trust, said they were currently improving the towpath between Skipton and Bradley to create better access and provide traffic-free routes for walkers and cyclists.

He added: "We understand there are other parts of the towpath that still need improving and, as a charity, the Trust, in partnership with Craven District Council, is continuing to seek opportunities for external investment that may fund the delivery of towpath surfacing adjacent to Broughton Road and on to Niffany Bridge – a stretch measuring 1,500 metres.

"We are hoping we can secure some funding to revitalise this stretch in the near future.”