An East Morton beauty spot has been made more accessible following footpath improvements.

Two new footbridges have been built and footpaths improved on the woodland walk at Sunnydale Reservoir.

The route, added to the definitive footpaths map a few years ago, was previously impassable after heavy rain.

Bradford Council teamed up with the Peak and Northern Footpaths Society to open up Sunnydale. The Footpaths Society — formed in 1894 to keep public rights of way open — paid for the footbridges. The council built the bridges and improved the path and its Countryside and Rights of Way team was officially “handed” the path last week.

Clarke Rogerson, chairman of the Footpaths Society, said: “By working together we have made a significant improvement in the access to this delightful area which can be enjoyed by all walkers.

“The footpaths through the woodland were added to the definitive map a few years ago and thanks to the bridges people will now be able to get through whatever the weather.”

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the council’s executive member for the environment, said: “People often forget that the district is 80 per cent rural.”