Campaigners calling for a bridge to be built across the River Wharfe have enlisted the help of a controversial TV star.

The newly-formed Burley Bridge Association has announced that Janet Street Porter, famous for her outspoken views and campaigning for ramblers' rights, has agreed to become the group's president when it elects a committee at its first annual general meeting in May.

The association, which has 150 members, was formed last year to help speed up the process of building a footbridge across the River Wharfe and has been backed by the West Riding Branch of the Ramblers' Association.

The association's secretary Brian Spence said that the presenter's support would give the campaign a massive boost.

He said: "Having Janet on board is excellent news for the group because it will help raise our profile and the fact that somebody with a national reputation like Janet is

prepared to be our president shows that we mean business. We were delighted when she said yes.

"Her name gives us a little bit more

credence as a group as we're applying for charitable status."

Mr Spence said that Miss Street Porter's hectic schedule would mean that she would not be able to take part in the daily running of the group but he hoped that she would appear at the occasional event.

"It was quite easy to get her involved. We knew that she has an association with the area and that she has a house close by so we wrote to her and she agreed straight away," he added.

Miss Street Porter combines her job as the editor of the Independent on Sunday with her role as vice-president of the Ramblers' Association and presenting TV programmes such as BBC2's Cathedral Calls where she investigates historic religious sites around the UK.

The journalist also keeps a cottage in the Dales close to Burley-In-Wharfedale and is known to have an interest in local rights of way issues.

In a letter sent to Mr Spence, Miss Street Porter said that she would be happy to lend her name to the association's cause as she was very interested in the group's campaign.

In it she said: "I'm very happy and honoured to accept the offer to be your president. Although I only manage to visit my home in the Dales two days in every three weeks, I would be happy for my name to be used by your group."

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