A car wash at the centre of a row about waste water running onto a neighbouring nature reserve has a new recycling system in operation.

Equipment was installed at the Hand Car Wash in Coutances Way, Ben Rhydding, last week, and is now up and running, says landowner, Michael Booth.

The installation of a sealed-in drainage and water recycling system was a condition of planning permission granted for the business by Bradford Council earlier this year.

There was opposition to the plan from ward councillor, Martin Smith, and Ilkley and District Angling Association, which claimed waste water was polluting its land nearby. The Environment Agency later ruled it was satisfied with water being contained on the site.

The car wash was granted temporary planning permission in 2006, but this expired in 2009. Mr Booth, who applied for the original permission, gained new approval after he bought the land back last year.

Mr Booth said the new system, which recycles all the water in the hand car wash, cost just under £40,000.