CAMPAIGNERS against a new bid to turn Ben Rhydding's last public house into a housing development have reproduced an icon of a previous conflict to help them try to win their battle.

Members of the 'Save Us Pub' (SUP) group have used the famous First World War recruiting poster featuring the then War Secretary ,Lord Kitchener.

Instead of 'Your Country Needs You' in the famous poster, the moustachioed hero of the Sudanese wars now proclaims the message 'Your Community Needs You'.

The poster, along with a long letter detailing the community group's opposition to the plan, is being distributed to around 1,500 homes in the area in the hope of raising more support.

The campaign is a reaction to the plans of Antler Homes Yorkshire Ltd, which has submitted another bid to turn the former Wheateley Hotel into houses. The Pool-in-Wharfedale based developers have come up with a new scheme which includes 18 new homes on the site plus the partial demolition of the pub and conversion of the rest into four flats.

A previous planning application for a similar scheme had been turned down by the Keighley Area Planning Panel, although an appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment, John Prescott, against the decision has been withdrawn.

Sandy McPherson, of SUP said the letters outlining the group's objections and plea for support would be distributed to around 1,500 homes in time for as many people as possible to object to the plan before the deadline ran out on November 20.

Mr McPherson said: "The Wheatley has been a social centre for many residents, organisations and visitors for over a century.

"In the pursuit of profit, this is all to be snatched away by people with no interest in Ben Rhydding or Ilkley. There are those keen to re-open it, but they have been thwarted by an overly high rent.

"The only way to get The Wheatley re-opened is to persuade the council that the permanent loss of amenity would have a serious impact on the community as a whole.

"An objection from every corner of the community will get this message across. The plans themselves represent an over-development on the site and must be stopped. Its overall impact will be seen from the Cow and Calf, as a huge monstrosity within an otherwise pleasant community."

The group has included an already written letter of objection for people to sign but urges everyone to write their own letter to the planners in the hope that they will once again reject the application.

The campaign has received support from Ilkley district and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth.

She said: "My objections to the development are maintained. I still believe Ben Rhydding needs to retain its last pub."