TWO clean-up days have been organised at the Riverside Gardens in Ilkley.

Volunteers willing to help give the area a spring clean are asked to meet in the carpark to the gardens on either May 10 or 19, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

The events are also an opportunity for residents to discuss any concerns they have about anti-social behaviour in the area following a series of incidents, which have involved vandalism to play equipment in the Bradford Council-run play area and a shocking incident in which two-year-old Ilkley girl, Chloe Bentham, was injured by a razorblade taped to the handle of a ride.

Representatives from Bradford Council, Ilkley Parish Council, council wardens and the Community Alcohol Partnership will all be in attendance.

The move comes after the first of five weeks of extra police officers, PCSOs and special constables patrolling the area, organised by Inspector Alan Rhees-Cooper, of Keighley Neighbourhood Policing team.

Councillor Arshad Hussain, executive member for neighbourhood and community safety at Bradford Council, said: "Working together with partners, including the police and parish council, we must ensure families, dog walkers and the wider community are safe, and feel safe in the park.

"I have had detailed discussions on the way forward with parish councillor Henri Murison, who had already been working on the issue before the latest incident with the razorblade, alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, and concerned residents and families.

"The clean-up days will make a difference, alongside the additional officers, PCSOs and specials the Neighbourhood Inspector has made available on Friday nights, in particular to tackle anti-social behaviour."

Cllr Murison added: "We owe it to the family affected to do everything possible to catch those responsible, and stop anything similar happening again.

"I have had detailed discussions with Cllr Hussain, who is responsible for community safety across the district. He has raised the need for re-deployable CCTV with those responsible for their deployment, and a camera for this area of Ilkley is actively being considered, which I welcome.

"As the Police and Crime Commissioner and I said to those residents who made the time to attend our walkabout earlier this month, whether it is by 101, the West Yorkshire Police website, or 999 in an emergency, all anti-social behaviour needs to be reported. With extra police officers made available, they need to know what is going on from those who know best – those whose homes are nearest or use the park, such as to walk their dogs there."

Volunteers will be provided with gloves, bags and litter pickers during the clean-up days. All children must be supervised.