Thousands of walkers are demanding Bradford Council makes a footbridge across the River Wharfe a priority.

The Ramblers' Association (RA) West Riding Area has been fighting for a bridge into Nidderdale for years - but the campaign began more than a century ago.

The RA says the Council should make it compulsory for a bridge to be built into the district's closest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The footpath into nearby Nidderdale crosses the Wharfe by stepping stones which are nearly always flooded and impassable.

Planning permission for the bridge near Greenholme Farm at Leatherbank was recently renewed by Councils on both sides of the river, but progress has been blocked by landowners refusing to agree to the necessary footpath links with the existing rights of way network.

RA spokesman Keith Wadd said: "This is a matter of regional importance for walkers and we call on Bradford and Leeds Councils to give immediate strong support and practical help.

"A footbridge over the River Wharfe at Burley is urgently needed to bypass the flooded stepping stones.

"It is ridiculous that an ideal route with excellent public transport links cannot be used because of the apathy of local authorities."

Mr Wadd said the group wanted Bradford Council to make a compulsory footpath creation order and use its influence to enable grants for the bridge's construction.

More than 2,500 walkers have signed a letter of support and are writing to their local councillors.

Malcolm Pitt, secretary of the Bradford Ramblers, said: "It is wrong that a mixture of landowner obstructiveness and local authority apathy should be allowed to block a project so massively in the public interest."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "A meeting between Bradford Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the Burley Bridge Association will take place early next month.

"It will allow us to discuss the current position regarding proposals for a footbridge with the relevant groups."