A SMALL-scale version of Otley's Chevin Cross has gone up in the town's market place - just as organisers learned that restrictions preventing them putting up the full- size cross have been lifted.

Otley Churches Together opted for putting up a smaller cross in the town centre after footpaths to Surprise View on Otley Chevin were closed because of foot-and-mouth disease restrictions.

Leeds City Council last Saturday re-opened footpaths on the Chevin which do not run across farmland. But churchgoers - who had already arranged Easter Day services in the market place - found there was not enough time to revert to their original plan of putting up the 30ft cross on the Chevin.

However, they found another obstacle to contend with, when the market place cross was torn down and thrown to the ground over the weekend.

It was put up again by Otley Churches Together volunteers on Monday morning.

Ron Sweeney, of Otley Churches Together, said members are keeping their eye on the cross in case of further vandalism.

Free hot cross buns will be given out by church volunteers in Otley Market Place on Saturday morning from 11am in a bid to attract shoppers to Easter Sunday services.

A dawn service will take place in the market place at 7am Easter Sunday, and there will be another service next to the cross later in the day.

l The replacement cross - made from timber from buildings destroyed in the Manchester 1996 IRA bombing - was first used last year.

An appeal raised more than £2,000 to pay for the new cross.

It replaced the old 30-year-old-one which had been damaged by vandals and was built by Ilkley cabinet maker Brent Thompson.