POLICE have confirmed that a suspected sexual assault in Ilkley town centre was a false report.

West Yorkshire Police said on Tuesday afternoon that a woman who alleged she had been attacked by a man at the junction of Brook Street and The Grove late on Saturday night (April 23) has now admitted this report was false.

Police say they are now considering what action to take.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, said: "Reports of this nature are treated extremely seriously and are often managed by specialist teams trained to investigate the most serious crimes.

"People who make up crimes not only waste valuable police resources, they detract officers from helping genuine victims. 

"False reporting could also delay our response to a real emergency and potentially puts people's lives at risk."