Staff at an Otley bank have boosted a scheme to transform a neglected piece of land in the town into a London-style square.

Otley Town Council has set money aside to give the site in Nelson Street a 'capital' new look before the Millennium and asked other organisations to chip in.

Now workers at Midland Bank have pledged £500 towards the project.

Manager Neil Valentine said they were delighted to help out. "We welcome this and will do what we can to help," he said.

"Whatever we do to our building, people also see that area and it doesn't look good. It's not just for the bank's sake, but for everybody.

"The bus station is opposite where people arrive in the town and it doesn't create a good image. This will help us and help the town."

The scheme was launched earlier this year by the Town Council's environmental development committee.

Plans for the area include new paving, extensive planting of colourful shrubs and trees, seating and improved lighting to deter vandalism.

A paved footpath will also take pedestrians through the area, rather than them crossing on the grass.

Mr Valentine said: "People just tramp across that and it looks dreadful.

"If we get a formal pathway and tidy it up, it will be much more attractive."

At a recent meeting of the town council committee, Councillor Mike Evans thanked the Midland Bank staff.

"I think they were delighted they got the money they asked for. They certainly put in a lot of good work lobbying their bosses for it," he said.

Environmental committee chairman Jennifer Clifton said work on the land was gathering pace, with trees already pruned to clear dead wood.

She told the meeting that railings around the land would soon be removed, to be replaced with new black painted posts with chains within the next couple of months.

Coun Clifton said: "That is budgeted for and will go ahead. Work on the paving and planting up of the area will wait until after that.

"At the moment we are trying to ascertain what permission we need."

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