Angry Baildon residents claim the heart of the village has been ripped out after flags were replaced with black bitumen road surfacing.

Residents say the village centre now resembles a car park or an industrial estate after the flags outside shops on Northgate were pulled up last week by Yorkshire Co-operatives, which owns the land.

John Rhodes, of Enfield Road, who has lived in the area for 60 years, said it was a disgrace.

"In my opinion the flags should have been lifted, relaid and the damaged ones replaced. It is an absolute shambles for a village centre," said the former engineer.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Co-operatives said the stones were replaced on health and safety grounds.

"They were replaced as many of them were broken, cracked or lifted," he said.

"We did, however, liaise extensively with traders along Northgate before proceeding. The work is now complete."

Trader Willie Gray, who runs the David Gray hair salon, said there have been complaints about the old surface.

"There were a few accidents with people tripping up on the flag stones, but this really doesn't look nice and I think it would have been better if the flags had been relaid," he said. "It looks more like a car park than a pedestrian area."

Councillor John Cole (Lib Dem, Baildon) said a number of elderly people had fallen.

"The bitumen surface is certainly smoother and safer for older people and people with push-chairs but it is not aesthetically pleasing," he said.

And Barbara Baxter, of Moorfield Drive, said the paving stones could have been repaired.

"The street might be safer and smoother but it looks incredibly ugly," she added.