Oxenhope villagers fear a village beauty spot could be used for quarrying, after it appeared on a planning blueprint plan as a potential quarry site.

Parish councillors became concerned after discovering Black Moor has been designated a possible mineral extraction site. The moorland contains sandstone and crushed rock, used in the building industry, which could be extracted by quarrying.

The draft version of Bradford Council's Unitary Development Plan (UDP) detailed Black Moor's mineral qualities.

Chairman of Oxenhope Parish Council, Derek Allen, said members would put forward their views during the public consultation on the UDP: "We will be voicing our objections on areas of concern. It could mean that companies could explore the area for quarrying which could have considerable implications."

Bradford Council is required by the Government to list Areas of Search - a list of geological deposits where minerals may be found across the district - in the new UDP.

Council planning spokesman Andy Haigh said: "The listing of Areas of Search in the UDP no way implies permission for extraction would be given.

"There are a number of rigorous planning hurdles to be overcome before consent could be given to any new mineral extraction in the district. The Black Moor Area of Search does not include the nationally recognised nature site on the moor, as the Council aims to protect these areas from quarrying activity.