ANYONE having a quick glance at the mountain ash trees outside Ilkley Railway Station can tell there is something seriously wrong with them.

The leaves have curled up, turning black in the process, leaving the growth stunted and arthritic, instead of vibrant and healthy.

Exactly what is wrong with them nobody knows for certain. It could be a serious tree disease called Fireblight, meaning that the young trees will eventually die.

Or it could be a less serious case of blossom wilt, from which the tree can recover next season.

Isolated cases of tree disease in the area are quite common, especially in warm, wet summers which encourage bacteria to breed profusely - but the disease affecting Ilkley trees is more widespread.

It is already discernable on the trees outside the town's Post Office, on trees along Bolton Road, in the village of Addingham and elsewhere.

The extent of trees in the area showing the same signs of infection has alarmed a tree surgeon who has been in the business for more than 30 years.

If it is a case of widespread Fireblight, affected trees should be pruned back drastically and cuttings burned or buried to prevent further infection. Already dead trees should also be destroyed.

Dutch elm disease has already decimated British woodlands and it would be a shame if another disease were allowed to flourish, destroying even more of the green lung of Wharfedale.

There is hardly a day goes by when Bradford Council does not take the opportunity take a flying leap on the running-board of the environmental bandwagon, so City Hall officials could be expected to be at the forefront of the fight to protect Ilkley's greenery.

But as the Railway Station trees are on private, not local authority-owned land the council has shown a remarkable lack of interest.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.