TELEVISION watchers have been seeing double - thanks to Otley's new hospital.

Residents of The Oval claim the new hospital is so high its blocking out the television signal from Emley Moor.

Those in the shadow of the new £15 million hospital, which is due to get its roof fitted next month, say reception has been messed up since the main framework of the three storey building went up more than a month ago.

Pensioner Vera Harrison, 82, called in a television engineer after 'ghosts' appeared on three channels, and paid for a booster aerial - but says it has made no difference.

"I called an engineer out and he said to me it was because the signal was hitting the hospital. "He came from Pontefract and said there was a similar problem there with houses around slag heaps.

"I paid £72 for a booster aerial, but it hasn't made any difference. We're still getting ghosting on BBC1, BBC2 and Channel Four, although ITV isn't too bad."

Mrs Harrison says she knows of at least eight others in The Oval who are having the same problem, including her granddaughter.

"At 82-years-old £72 is a lot of money to spend out of my pension. I'm not grumbling about the hospital, we've fought for 20 years to get it and it will be marvellous when it is finished, but I could just do without this interference on the television."

Jackie Dabill, also of The Oval, has a satellite dish, which is unaffected by the hospital, but is concerned what will happen if she goes back to terrestrial television.

"When it comes to the time when we won't be able to afford satellite anymore we shall have the same problem. I've no objections about the hospital, but at the end of the day through no fault of our own it might cost us financially."

Town councillor John Eveleigh said he was aware some residents were having problems and had discussed it with Kevin Westwood, project manager with the hospital trust.

"It is unfortunate, but it might just be a case of changing the direction of aerials. I hope it can be resolved."

A spokeswoman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We are aware of the problem and we are looking into it."