THOUSANDS of pounds and four days of work has gone into major footpath restoration on Ilkley Moor.

Starting from the main wooden bridge at Backstone Beck, some new steps have been constructed on the first steep part of the path, with the sandstone path continuing 350 metres to the Lower Tarn.

The work, carried out by contractors Matthew Robinson of Steeton, was commissioned by Bradford Council Countryside Service.

Eighty tons of sandstone was used and took four days to complete at a cost of £4,800 which will be paid for by the Friends of Ilkley Moor.

Richard Perham from Bradford Council’s Countryside Service said: “I am very pleased with the standard of the work which repairs a path that was very wet and slippery in places.

“We will during the winter months do more repairs to paths, thin out trees and gorse in certain areas of the Moor.

“I have contracted some mowing to tidy up the paddling pool before the winter sets in. Work will also be done on drainage to keep paths from becoming boggy while maintaining other wet areas.”