A tunnel dug from different ends does not always meet in the middle.

Yorkshire Water engineers stumbled upon this simple fact when installing surface water drainage pipes for Riddlesden's Swine Lane development.

Red-faced contractors for the 400-home Taywood development are believed to have started digging under the canal aiming to come out at the top of Cliffe Crescent.

A connection pipe had already been laid by YW but digging at the Cliffe Crescent side they could not find it.

"It's a good job it's not the Channel Tunnel," says ward Councillor Andrew Mallinson, pictured, who has closely followed the development.

The work has also angered Bradford Road residents who face the prospect of YW slicing up their gardens _ which back on to the River Aire - to lay down the pipes.

The 1991 Water Industry Act gives YW the power to do this provided landowners are given "reasonable notice" and offered compensation.

Councillor Mallinson adds: "The contractor wants to go down towards the river off Bradford Road."

But it is believed residents' objections could have hampered this.

A meeting was to take place yesterday afternoon between one of the residents, a Waterwatch representative and YW engineers.

As we went to press YW engineers were unavailable to comment.

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