MUDDY footpaths could be a thing of the past in Oakworth thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

Residents have teamed up with council officers for the village’s A Lot Less Muddy Underfoot footpaths initiative.

They are creating easier access to four of the public footpaths around the village.

The initiative is spearheaded by Pip Gibson, a Keighley Town Council-funded community development worker, and Bradford Council Rights of Way officer Darren Hinchcliffe.

Bradford Council highways department provided five tonnes of tarmac planings to resurface the path at Grey Scar and Wide Lane.

Pip said: “The Rights of Way and Highways officers are very supportive of these community led initiatives. A hefty load of tarmac planings were lovingly shovelled, raked, barrowed, wedged and stomped into place by a 14 eager volunteers.”

Residents Paul and Hilary Child provided refreshments, and the Golden Fleece pub laid on pain peas afterwards.

The team is now looking at three other footpaths in Oakworth in need of improvements, with support from Keighley town councillor Peter Corkindale and local businessman Simon Thornton.

The Rights of Way team have already cleared steps of old vegetation on Mill Lane, ready for volunteers to apply tarmac planings to the path above.

In the Griffe Woods area a path has been cleared of overgrown vegetation and scraped level, ready for coverage by sand limestone, and the fitting of a gate at the wood end of the path.

Around Slaymaker Lane, Rights of Way officers are clearing the start of the footpath and Cllr Corkindale is funding pebbles/stone chippings that volunteers will use to cover the path.

Email pipgibsoncdw@hotmail.co.uk or call 07587 210101 to volunteer to help the project.