A compromise is being sought in a row between Yorkshire Water and residents who claim the company is making their lives a misery.

Householders living on Green Lane in Thornton have complained because of contractors using the steep narrow road for access to maintenance work on a storm-water overflow tank.

Vehicles and equipment use the lane as access to the site whose entrance is directly opposite the residents' cottages.

But now landowner Barry Whitaker has stepped in and offered Yorkshire Water alternative free access over his land, which is next to the site off Thornton Road.

Yorkshire Water is now in discussions with Mr Whitaker after the Telegraph & Argus alerted it to the residents' concerns.

Resident Amanda Rignall, who has a seven-month-old son, said she has been scared to leave her home with her pram because of the heavy goods vehicles using the narrow lane. She said: "It is hell at the moment. The road is far too narrow for the size of the vehicles that have been using it as access. There is only a pavement on one side of the road and the lorries often mount it making it impossible for me to get out there with the pram."

Yorkshire Water is working on the £750,000 scheme to install a massive storm detention tank to relieve pressure on the sewerage network during times of heavy storm conditions. Work started on October 20 and is scheduled to be completed by March 3. Green Lane resident John Lee said: "It is madness. Green Lane has a one-in-five gradient and is only wide enough for one car. We just want something to be sorted that is more sensible and doesn't put our lives at risk."

Mr Whitaker said: "They can use my land as access to put an end to the misery of the residents on Green Lane so long as it is ploughed and seeded afterwards."

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said: "We are committed to looking at all opportunities to try and minimise any disruption and will be happy to talk to Mr Whitaker to discuss his offer.