Villagers are fighting to stop a million-pound leisure trail along a disused railway line destroying their privacy and security.

The first phase of a six-mile cycling, walking and horse-riding route along the former Bradford-to-Keighley line from Cullingworth to Queensbury has been submitted to Shipley planners.

But people in Cullingworth are concerned the route - which runs along the back of their homes - could be used as a quick get-away by criminals on motorbikes.

And many say their gardens and bedroom windows will be overlooked. They have submitted a petition asking for a fence or mature shrubs and defined access points.

Mother-of-three Lynne Robinson, 35, of Mowbray Close, whose home backs onto the trail, said the village in general was in favour of the scheme. "But we want clearly defined access areas to stop people joining or leaving the trail at other points and we want to keep our privacy," she said.

"The railway line looks down onto our garden and, in the summer, the children love playing out there. I don't want to be worried that people could be watching them.

"Plants have already been taken out and we hope they will either be put back or a fence built."

At the Denholme neighbourhood forum, Cullingworth parish councillor Ken Bachelor said youngsters were already going on to the line and throwing stones on homes below.

"We need any problems ironed out now before permission is granted and then it's too late," he said.

Jeff McQuillan, chairman of the Great Northern Trail Forum, which is behind the project, told people at the meeting that he would work closely with them to ensure the trail would not have a detrimental effect on their lives.

"We will be having regular updates with the public along the way and we will be meeting residents to discuss their concerns and we'll look at how they can be addressed," he said. He also said motorcycles and other motor vehicles would be banned from using the trail.

The first phase runs between Cullingworth Primary School and Foster Park Views in Denholme. It includes the two Grade II listed viaducts at Cullingworth and Hewenden and is expected to cost £500,000.

A Bradford Council spokesman said the application and petition would be considered by Shipley Area Planning Panel in the summer.

The Great Northern line was closed to passengers in 1955 although it continued in use for goods until the mid 1960s.