A £100,000 scheme is planned for new toilets at a tiny Dales village with a population of only 300 people.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park scheme, at Kettlewell near Skipton, has angered villagers, who feel the money would have been better spent helping firms hit by the foot and mouth crisis. One trader fears if the scheme goes ahead in the spring, disruption from building work could drive him out of business.

The Park Authority is recommending that the plans for the toilets, a park rangers' office and community room should go ahead. The toilets are proposed for the village car park.

The plan is backed by Kettlewell-with-Starbotton Parish Council which has had complaints from tourists about the existing run-down block in Conistine Lane.

Michael Smith, who runs the Cottage Tea Room with his wife Jayne, said: "I already have a £30,000 overdraft - this could effectively close me down. If they start work at the end of February, it will go on through Easter and Spring Bank. Visitors will see the disruption and just drive through the village."

Tony Butterfield, who runs the Dale House guest house, said: "The national park couldn't do a worse thing at this time to kill off business in this village."

A park authority spokesman said the existing public toilets were inadequate and the new site had been chosen after careful consideration.