A group of keen walkers in Burley-in-Wharfedale has taken the first step towards gaining the village nationally-recognised status as a great place to walk.

The recently-formed Walkers are Welcome in Burley group is celebrating receiving a £150 grant from Burley Parish Council and hopes this will get its bid for Walkers are Welcome village on the road.

The national accreditation scheme encourages communities to develop more opportunities for walking locally.

Walkers are Welcome status helps strengthens a town’s reputation as a place for people to visit, and enjoy the outdoors – and can benefit the local economy.

Neighbouring Ilkley is among the communities which already have the status.

David Asher, of the Burley group, said: “We are grateful for the superb support from village businesses and organisations during August and September. They collected nearly 500 signatures from local people on our behalf in support of the application which is about double what we needed.”

“We now have approval to proceed from the Parish Council which is great, and their generous grant means we can now submit our application.”