The Ramblers' Association is renewing a 104-year-old battle for a bridge to be built across the River Wharfe.

The group is calling for urgent action from Bradford Council now that the Stepping Stones in Burley-in-Wharfedale have become hazardous.

The stones in the River Wharfe at Greenholme are now visible due to dry spell, but they are eroded and dangerous.

The Ramblers' Association wants the council to carry out repairs to the stepping stones immediately and it believes the answer to the problem is a footbridge over the Wharfe.

The area secretary of the Ramblers' Association, Keith Wadd said: "This is a ludicrous situation. This important path is blocked most of the year because the stepping stones are flooded.

"Walkers are strongly advised not to attempt a crossing.

"Now there's a dry spell, the stepping stones are too damaged to use. We demand that immediate repairs are carried out.

"We believe that the answer to the problem is a footbridge over the Wharfe at Burley. Planning permission has already been obtained for this important public amenity, and the local authorities should be doing everything they can to expedite it instead of dragging their feet."

More than 2,500 ramblers have signed statements of support and the group is backed by other Burley clubs.

Colin Newton, Chairman of the Burley Bridge Association, said: "The good weather has come, and there are a lot of people in Burley who would love to be able to walk the attractive paths at the other side of the river.

"They are now thwarted by the dangerous state of the stepping stones. The only sensible solution is to build a bridge - something we have been saying for years."

Efforts to build a bridge across the stepping stones have been raised since 1898 at Burley community meetings.

Financing the bridge has always been a stumbling block and it is estimated that it would cost £250,000 to build and maintain.

Planning permission for a footbridge was granted in 1999 and the Burley Bridge Association is continuing to push for its implementation.

The bridge would provide a vital link to the network of paths taking walkers from Burley to the Washburn Valley and moors.