The inquiry into the state of the main Aire Valley sewer has been branded a "farce".

Bradford Council has called consultant Christopher Wotherspoon, of drainage contractors Baptie, to report on the state of the sewage system. But the move has been attacked by Worth Valley Conservative councillor Kris Hopkins, who said: "The whole inquiry has fallen into farce. The time scale of four weeks to assess the hundreds of miles of failing sewers and dozens of sewage outlets into the Rivers Worth and Aire is totally impossible."

And John Walker, a leading campaigner on the issue, said a recent meeting with consultant Mr Wotherspoon raised more questions than it answered. "The consultant said that the problems we face in Keighley are the same as in other parts of the country, and seemed to be saying that we will just have to live with them. That seems to me to be reaching a conclusion before the inquiry has even come to an end."

Bradford Council planning chief Councillor Phil Thornton, said: "We have commissioned an independent inquiry and there will be no corners cut. This will be a comprehensive and detailed inquiry, and will be released as a public document. I think it is wrong to try to whip up public opinion based on half truths and guesses."

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