Litter louts are putting children's safety at risk at a Keighley beauty spot.

Piles of foodstuffs, plus bottles and hypodermic needles, are being dumped at Keighley Tarn.

Rats are becoming increasingly commonplace at the Black Hill site, where tens of thousands of pounds have been spent on improvements in the past two years.

Now the public is being asked to shop culprits in a bid to clean up the problem.

And visitors to the tarn are being urged to take their own litter home.

Council countryside officer David Parsons said: "Piles of leftover restaurant food are being dumped there, in the mistaken belief that wildlife will eat it. In fact all that is happening is rats are being attracted to feed on it, and their population is growing.

"Vermin spreads disease, and that poses clear risks at a site which is well used by families and where young children play. There is also a major problem with hypodermic needles and glass and plastic bottles being dumped. I was up there this week and in just half an hour filled a bin liner full of bottles.

"We removed bins from the site in the hope that visitors would be encouraged to take their litter home, but that hasn't worked. We have now applied for funding to buy two litter bins and to get an extra bench.

"A lot has been done at the tarn and it is a nice facility, but unfortunately a minority is spoiling it for everyone."

He said people dumping rubbish at the site were committing a criminal offence, and that anyone caught would be prosecuted.

Mr Parsons urged anybody with information to phone (01274) 432666, and give what details they could - such as vehicle registration numbers - to help catch the culprits.