A DISINTEGRATING road in a South Craven village is causing concern among residents.

Villagers living in Lothersdale fear the road could collapse, causing a bad accident.

They have asked highways bosses at North Yorkshire County Council to look into it.

The road at Bent Hall bridge, leaving the village towards Colne, runs near the beck.

Residents first highlighted the problem nearly two years ago when they noticed the road subsiding at its edge.

Dr Mike Gover, chairman of Lothersdale Parish Council, said: "The road is disintegrating and disappearing into the beck.

"I'm no expert, but at the moment there's quite a large chunk out of the side of the road.

"Anyone not familiar with the village who doesn't know it's there could hit it and that would cause a nasty accident.

"With the amount of rain we've had recently I don't know what's going on underneath the road."

Dr Gover added that the parish council had been assured that highways bosses were aware of the problem and would be setting aside funding to repair the road.

"I can't remember how long this has been going on," he said.

"We don't seem to be able to get anywhere with the highways people because nothing has happened. It's a nasty situation and something really needs doing about it."

Richard Marr, divisional engineer for North Yorkshire's highways department, said experts were keeping a close eye on the state of the road.

"We are aware of it and we're keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn't become dangerous," he said.

"We want to repair the retaining wall which is collapsing and we hope to be able to do that in this financial year.

"However, the budget has been somewhat depleted following the recent flooding."* A new road scheme labelled dangerous by both the police and local councillors has been removed.

Highways bosses in Bradford have had a rethink about a sign in Silsden which has been placed on a built-out kerb at the edge of Bolton Road.

The 30mph warning sign has been removed after councillors and the police said drivers were having to swerve to avoid it.

A Bradford Council spokesman told the Herald: "The build-out and sign have been removed and a new sign with a single pole will be erected against the wall in the near future so as not to cause an obstruction."