A STORM on Friday afternoon caused a drain to burst leading to raw sewage spilling onto a public footpath and nearby gardens at Rivadale View, Ilkley.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) contacted Yorkshire Water and Bradford Council’s Environmental Health Department in a bid to get the matter resolved long term after being contacted by concerned residents.

She said: “The manhole cover was not broken. It was forced off by the bolts giving way due to high pressure of water. This has constantly reoccurred over past ten years I am informed. This is affecting my residents and their properties. There needs to be action now not in the hazy future.”

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said: “During the storms this weekend our manhole on the footpath near Rivadale View became damaged and caused some localised flooding. Our engineers visited over the weekend to clear up the area and we’re in the process of replacing and securing the manhole. A longer term solution to help alleviate flooding issues here is being worked on in partnership with the Environment Agency and Bradford Council.”