Holes in a collapsing Victorian wall on a busy Bradford road beside a 30ft drop on to a disused railway line are a serious danger to children, a councillor has warned.

Loose stones have fallen away to create another potentially-deadly gap in the wall on bends in Leeds Road at Thackley, which edges the pavement used daily by pupils of Immanuel College.

Ward Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, together with members of a community action group, fear it is in serious risk of total collapse.

She drew atttention to the problem wall more than year ago and said it was now far worse. “There are now several different holes and it is seriously dangerous to children walking on their way to school,” said Coun Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley).

“These Victorian walls are well past their sell by date and all Bradford Council has done with the latest hole is put up a temporary wire fence which is loosely secured at one end.

“It’s just so unsafe and there is potentially massive liability for the council with this.”

Coun Sunderland said there was some confusion over who owned the wall, but that the urgent action had to be taken.

“It’s not on for the Council to drag it’s heels any longer. It’s just not good enough,” she said.

Businessmen Steve Dresser is a founder member of the Thackley Community Group and said there was a great deal of frustration among residents in the area. “There’s just seems to be a complete lack of interest on the part of the Council to actually do anything,” he said.

“The problems with this wall have gone on for years. We all pay good rates, but typically nothing gets done.

“Who owns it is not the concern of local residents – the Council should make sure it’s safe. It should have been sorted ages ago,” said Mr Dresser, who has lived in the village for seven years.

A Council spokesman said: “We are aware of this matter and we are investigating. Health and safety is of course of paramount importance.”