Opening times at Otley Police Station have been slashed by more than half, prompting fears about its future.

From Monday, the station will only be open to the public during office hours.

Although people will be able to contact police at Weetwood via a telephone video link at the station, there will be no-one at the front desk on Saturdays and Sundays and only from 9am to 5pm during the week.

Police chiefs have said the reduced hours - changed from 8am to 10pm seven days a week - are temporary and due to sickness.

But they have warned the opening hours will be reviewed once those on sick leave have returned in two to three weeks' time.

Workers at the police station believe the reduced hours will remain, and fear further reductions or a complete closure of the station is on the cards.

One station worker, who asked not to be named, said: "We've heard rumblings for a long time. We think they are trying to run it down gradually and then say they've not got enough staff to manage it and close the station completely."

And Margaret Atkinson, vice chairman of the Aireborough, Horsforth and Otley Police Community Forum, said reducing hours was a step backward.

"We are desperately short of police officers at the moment. I don't think the public realise just how short we are," she said.

"Otley has been extremely lucky to have a police station in the town for this length of time. Let's hope it is just reduced hours and not the first step in closing it down."

Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale) said it reflected the force's shortage of money.

"There's not enough money to run the show. It's bad news for Otley," he said.

Chief Inspector Nicholas Bartrum, based at Weetwood Police Station, said: "The problem at the moment is that people on the help desk are off sick."

Chief Insp Bartrum added it was likely the people would be off for between two to three weeks and once they were back the opening hours would be reviewed.

He stressed that although the front door would be closed, there would be police officers in the building and patrols operating in the town.

"The police station is not going to close," he said.

"There will be police officers working in the building and officers patrolling Otley."