A Cowling woman has warned elastic bands dropped in the street could be dangerous for children and animals.

Carol Ogden, of Gibb Street, has picked up more than 25 of the bands in the village and around Skipton and was alarmed to see a young boy, around the age of five, playing with one around his neck.

She said: "Children were playing outside and I saw a little boy playing with a brown plastic band around his neck. He was pulling it and saying it was what his action toy did.

"They could be very danger-ous for young children and animals."

Mrs Ogden believes some of the bands could been dropped by postmen and women as she has picked up small red bands and normal-sized brown bands which are sometimes used to secure letters and parcels.

Instead of taking them off and keeping them, she says the postmen are simply dropping them on the floor.

"It's just sad really - postmen should be putting them in their pocket," she added.

Now, she has complained to Royal Mail sorting office in Keighley.

Supporting Mrs Ogden is Cowling Parish Council chairman John Alderson, who has also noticed the elastic bands in the village.

He said: "These bands should not be deposited on the floor, the postmen should be keeping them around their wrists, taking them back to the office and recycling them.

"I didn't twig at first who was dropping them, I thought it was kids messing about with them.

"It has taken a long time for this issue to raise its head. I've seen these bands at least since the beginning of this year.

"They are dangerous for young children and older children could use them as catapults."

Cowling mum-of-three Kathryn Wilson agreed there could be a risk.

"I guess the bands could be dangerous in the wrong hands.It's more of an issue about responsible parenting," she added.

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said it was important for people to dispose of man-made litter responsibly.

"Elastic bands can be potentially hazardous to animals - they could try to swallow them and get them caught in their throats.

"People need to use their common sense and throw their litter away responsibly," she added.

A spokesman for Royal Mail told the Herald: "Unfortunately rubber bands are sometimes dropped when mail is being delivered, but most postmen and women are very diligent and pick them up.

"Royal Mail managers will speak to staff in the places you have drawn to our attention, and ask them to take more care."