AN environmentalist has fled Otley - claiming that the town is a pollution black spot.

Geoffrey Jones, who had lived in the town for 15 years, says poor health has forced him to move to the healthier seaside resort of Filey in North Yorkshire.

Mr Jones, 69, a former member of the Wharfedale Environment Trust and Otley Road Safety Committee, has spent years protesting about the effects of traffic fumes in the town.

He believes those most at risk are the elderly and the very young - particularly babies in pushchairs who are closer to cars.

Mr Jones, who used to live in Peterhouse Drive, said: "It began last winter when I had a very bad chest, and it didn't clear up until about

June.

" I just thought if I don't go now, this could be my last winter. I think I'm the third person to move out because of pollution."

Despite Leeds City Council reassurances that the town does not suffer from pollution problems, he fears the invisible threat of tiny particles in the air could lead to blood clotting and eventually heart failure in elderly

residents, and babies lying at

car-height in prams.

Other people who have left the town because of pollution include former Bridge Street Surgery GP Geoffrey Hall, who cited the effect of Otley's traffic on his asthma, as one of his reasons for moving to Spain last year .

A recent air quality survey carried out by Leeds City Council concluded that there were no harmful levels of pollution in the air.

But Mr Jones questioned the standard methods of testing used by local authorities, after seeing a television documentary about the dangers of tiny particles of pollution, known as

PM10s.

"In the great fog of London, you could see yellow pollution in the air. But the more harmful particles are those which can't be seen.

"The standard set by the Government for testing air pollution involves weighing them, but there could be smaller, lighter particles, and these are more harmful.

"The only way to find out is to actually count them," he said.

One of his fears was the potential for more traffic in the valley - as the numbers of car owners rise, and when the second stage of the Otley bypass is completed.

Mr Jones said Otley's geographical position in the valley could also stop fumes being dispersed in certain weather conditions.

He prepared a report on pollution for council officers, who visited the town last year to hear concerns from Otley and District Road Safety Committee.

A Leeds City Council spokesman said environmental officers would continue to do tests on the air in Otley, because of residents' concerns.