A council is set to impose wash-day rules in a bid to end a war over the ancient tradition of drying clothes across back alleys.

It would mean hanging-out hours being restricted to one eight-hour period each week - or two at the most.

The washing zone has been planned by North Yorkshire County Council after consultation with highway lawyers and will hit homes in Thornton Street, Skipton.

The row was sparked by air steward David Painter who claimed washing was blocking his way by car to the back of his terraced home.

He said it was against the ancient Town Police Clauses Act/Obstruction of Highway dated1847.

Councillors on the Craven area committee are being asked to approve the Traffic Regulation Order when they meet on Thursday if further research fails to reveal that "pegging out" is acceptable.

It would allow one eight-hour hanging period in a week - or maybe two.

The report says: "Drying is likely to interfere with a person's right of passage where washing lines are strung across the highway.

"Therefore, the drying of washing is not a reasonable use of the highway."

Margaret Hicks of Thorn-ton Street, who is leading the opposition, said: "We are allowed to peg out or we keep fighting.

"We are not going to accept any restrictions.

"It's been going on for generations and we've had support from people all over the country."

And Reg Constantine, who has lived in Thornton Street for 46 years said: "How can you call the back alley a highway? It's stupid. There's a drain running down the middle.

"And people never hang their washing out for one day over eight hours anyway."

After the initial complaint the county council brought in a lawyer with expertise on highway law in a bid to resolve the matter.

And as a result Mike Moore, the director of environmental services, asked residents to remove their lines, saying they were likely to interfere with a person's right of passage. He also said washing "was not a reasonable use of the highway."

But this angered residents who pledged they would not be stopped after nearly 100 years of the tradition.

Craven councillor Mike Doyle backed the residents saying it was a tradition which "should not be stamped on." He called for a full explanation to made at Thursday's meeting.

The issue has remained confined to Craven so far with Bradford Council saying it would look into the legalities of the issue if roads involved were classified as part of the highway.

Residents from the Broughton Road area are to lobby the area committee at its meeting in Skipton.