HORSE riders in Trawden are campaigning for improvements to a bridleway which they claim is "unsafe and unpleasant".

Trawden and Borders Bridleway Association claims its members have experienced numerous problems on the path, which is off Lumb Lane, in Cowling.

Paul White, from the association, said he nearly had an accident on the bridleway, which is called Wool Hey Brow, earlier this week when he almost hit his head on a low branch.

He said: "We have encountered several problems with this bridleway, and it has now become very impractical and almost impassable."

Their concerns include gates which are difficult to open, deep tractor rivets that are a foot wide which could cause a horse to stumble or fall, stones on the track, trees with low hanging branches and branches on the track.

Mr White said: "In its current state, we feel that the bridleway is unsafe and unpleasant, but we would like to help restore it. "Several volunteers from the association have offered their time and manpower over several days to help sort this bridleway out.

"The council has said that it will look into the drainage systems, and that our volunteers will be able to carry out some work."Keith Watkins, access and public rights of way manager at North Yorkshire Council, which is responsible for the bridleway, said the council is employing a drainage contractor to sort out the parts of the track that are boggy.

He said: "Once the surface has been sorted out we would be happy to work with volunteers to improve the track.

"We encourage volunteers to help us and we have a track record of working together on projects."

Mr Watkins added that the gates would be removed altogether once the council had made sure that no livestock could get onto the path from any of the surrounding fields, which involved finding the owners of each piece of land.