RESIDENTS are hoping the power of song will help preserve a much-loved beauty spot.

People in Otley showed their love for the Irish fields when they took part in an open-air community singsong.

Sixty people, ranging in age from two to 92, gathered together at the event on Sunday.

Campaigners are concerned that the fields at the East of Otley are under threat from a major housing development that will stretch across the valley, covering an area around the size of Otley town centre.

A spokesperson for the East of Otley Action Group said: “The songs were led by Otley Action for Older People’s choir, ‘Singing For Pleasure’, and their choir leader, Thanda Gumede.

"They were accompanied by banjoist and barista, Sam Barratt, and a collection of other well-known Otley musicians, on violin, guitar and concertina. A thrush singing high in the trees that flank Ings Lane also joined in. It was lovely.”

The group came together to sing two songs: ‘This Land is Your Land’ by Woody Guthrie - with special East of Otley lyrics written by local writer Jan Fielden - and ‘We’ve Got to Wake Up', a song about the climate emergency.

Public comments on the East of Otley planning application close on July 16.

Campaigners are urging local people to make their views known by going to leeds.gov.uk/planning. Click ‘Search for a Planning Application’, and then click ‘Search planning applications using public access’. The planning application reference number is 21/01671/OT.

Follow @eastofotleyaction on Facebook or www.eastofotleyaction.co.uk/how-to-object for guidance on how to respond.

Campaigners are asking people to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/leeds-city-council-stop-persimmon-concreting-over-the-east-of-otley and to donate to East of Otley Action Group legal fundraiser: https://gofund.me/7ec59583.

More than 1,000 people have signed the petition, which calls on Leeds City Council to "Stop Persimmon concreting over East of Otley". The plans include around 700 houses, as well as a road, rugby pitches and employment land.

An action group spokesperson said:“If everyone who has signed the petition makes an objection to the planning officers, we will be sending a clear message about how Otley feels about this application from Persimmon.”

In June a spokesperson for Persimmon Homes West Yorkshire, said: “We believe that all concerns will be carefully considered during the planning process.

"We hope to provide a collection of much-needed homes that will meet a range of budgets as well as significant community investment and facilities.”