Urgent calls have been made for all trees along the banks of the River Wharfe in Otley to be checked after one toppled over.

Otley Councillor Graham Kirkland is calling on the Environment Agency to check the trees as a matter of urgency after one measuring between 35 and 50ft collapsed and fell into the river on the north bank opposite the RAOB Club.

He is concerned that trees could land on a boat or be carried along by the current and end up dangerously lodged against Otley Bridge.

Coun Kirkland, whose house in Westgate overlooks the river, was contacted by a nearby resident who heard the tree crashing into the river while she was inside her house.

"Fortunately, there was no one passing in a boat at the time, but where the tree fell was well within the boating limits and it could have fallen on someone," said Coun Kirkland.

He added there were many trees along the banks of the river whose roots may be weakened when the river water rises.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency, which looks after the country's waterways, said someone had been sent out immediately after the incident was reported.

But he added it was the responsibility of individual landowners and not the agency to check on the safety of trees at the side of the river.

"We can only get involved when there is going to be a problem with a tree possibly causing flooding or a blockage," he added.

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