A pensioner is campaigning for better access to a recreation ground which provides an oasis for bored youngsters.

Harold Walker is angry that School Green between Allerton and Thornton is not made more attractive to youngsters.

"There is nowhere else for them to go around here and Bradford Council does not seem interested in making the most of it," he said.

The entrance to the recreation ground is in Old Road has been blocked by a gate to stop vehicles being driven on to it although there is still room for pedestrians to get through.

But Mr Walker, who lives in nearby School Green, said most youngsters got into the field by climbing over a wall in Thornton Road.

"They're always knocking it down and it's not really their fault. This has been going on for years," he said.

"Instead of spending money on repairing the wall every year, why don't they put in a new entrance on that side of the green? It would make far more sense."

Mr Walker said he would also like to see goal posts installed on the ground to give the youngsters a chance to have a better game of football.

"At the moment they put down big stones and the man who comes to mow the grass has to move them out of the way," he said.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "The gate was put on about four years ago to stop cars driving on to the recreation ground. There is a pedestrian access next to this on Old Road and a wall about 2ft high.

"The wall which gets damaged is the 4ft high retaining wall on Thornton Road as young people gather there near the bus stop and climb over.

"We are aware of the problem and have recently repaired the wall. Unfortunately we cannot create a new pedestrian access here because it would need a lot of work to level the ground and there is no funding for this."

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