The boss of one of the last remaining cable tramways in the country has urged visitors to use the amenity or lose it.

Mick Leak, who has been involved with Shipley Glen tramway for more than 20 years, says the tram is commercially not viable and figures have slumped due to the foot and mouth crisis.

He said: "I'm not in it for the money but I have put a lot of my own savings into the tram and I will have nothing to show for it. I need help."

Mr Leak said the tramway may be forced to close in September and its future depended on the public.

"This is a public facility and it's up to people to keep it going," he said. "I have four volunteers working here. If it wasn't for the fact that they don't get paid we wouldn't be able to open at all."

Mr Leak said a trust was needed to look at the future of the tram.

He said: "We didn't do very well last year with the bad weather, but the foot and mouth crisis has left us almost 75 per cent down. We can't manage with such low figures. It's a real shame because the tramway is part of our heritage. It has been mentioned in literature and films."

Volunteer Paul Wilkinson, who has worked at the tramway since 1982, said it would be sad to see it close. "We love working here and it would be awful if it had to close," he said. "It's just a sad situation.

The tram is open every weekend from noon to 5pm on Saturdays and 11am to 6pm on Sundays.