Shopkeepers in Keighley have taken a dim view of local authority efforts to brighten up a town centre street.

Traders in High Street are furious after lamp-posts were stuck right outside their front doors.

They claim that Bradford Council left them completely in the dark and didn't consult them at all about the location of the new posts.

At one business -- The Copy Shop -- it will now be impossible to get a large photocopying machine in and out of the premises.

And Bev and Peter Shuttleworth, who run the business, say the street light right next to their front door will also make access difficult for customers, especially people in wheelchairs and parents pushing prams.

Mr Shuttleworth said: "The posts were installed on Monday and when we saw where the workmen were putting them we couldn't believe it.

"It's completely ridiculous because the one outside our shop is going to make access more difficult for some of our customers.

"We have a large photocopier which we have to take out of the front door at an angle and it will be impossible to do that now.

"We've seen the funny side to it now, but we don't understand why they couldn't put the new lamp-posts where the old ones are."

Elfrieda Emmott, from the Nursery Corner pram shop, said: "We've had no consultation about this and when we asked the council they told us that letters should have been sent to us.

"The new post is right next to our shop wall and I don't understand why it can't be put on the other side of the pavement."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "A council officer visited the owners of The Copy Shop yesterday morning.

"If the lamp-post is causing an obstruction and is restricting access to the entrance of the shop, we will find a suitable alternative site."