Campaigners have urged a planning inspector to end “seven years of visual blight” by forcing landowners to clean-up an Otley eyesore.

The plea was made at the final day of a public inquiry which will decide what will happen to the former Bridge End Auction Mart site.

The land has been left derelict since the buildings were demolished in 2005.

Leeds City Council, which originally asked for the plot to be tidied and restored six years ago, served Parkmount Estates with a notice in 2010 to clean-up and grass over the conservation area site.

But the company, which had a car park plan for the plot rejected after an earlier 60 home scheme was refused, appealed.

Conserve Otley Riverside Campaign chairman Penny Mares told the inquiry: “We are left with a site in the conservation area which has steadily deteriorated in the 12 years, and a planning system which seems powerless to do anything about it.”