Outspoken television presenter Janet Street Porter, pictured, is to make her first public appearance as president of the Burley Bridge Association this month.

The Sunday newspaper editor, who has campaigned for rambler's rights, will lead a march through Burley-in-Wharfedale on May 13 to raise awareness of the long fight for a footbridge.

Members of the public are urged to join in the 1.5-mile walk from the village roundabout to the proposed site of the crossing over the River Wharfe to show their support for the scheme to replace slippery stepping stones with a safe crossing to link up the footpaths.

Ms Porter, who keeps a cottage in the Dales close to Burley-In-Wharfedale, has been president of Burley Bridge Association for more than a year but this will be her first official engagement.

She said: "A bridge at Burley is an excellent project and, in years to come, local residents and ramblers from West Riding will much appreciate it."

The group has been battling for years to get a footbridge, which could cost up to £300,000, because they claim the stones are dangerous and often inaccessible due to flooding. Despite opposition from residents of Greenholme, who fear their privacy will be invaded by an influx of walkers, the group made a breakthrough when planning permission was granted for the project.

But Colin Newton, chairman of the bridge association, said they ran into problems when the route at the former Greenholme Mill was proposed.

A new plan now has the route across the stepping stones, an existing right of way.

Families and children will be welcome on the walk, which starts at noon.

Keith Wadd, secretary of the West Riding Area Ramblers Association which backs the calls for a bridge, said a bridge would benefit residents, walkers and cyclists by giving access all year round to an area of outstanding natural beauty in Nidderdale.

He said that in a recent poll in Burley, people voted more than four to one in favour of a bridge and the Ramblers Association had collected more than 2,500 signatures in a statement of support.