Ilkley river group accuse environment ministers of blocking bathing application

Whole town wants designated status for River Wharfe and Defra is stalling, say campaigners

Campaigners seeking to make a river in Yorkshire the UK's first to be designated a bathing area have accused environment ministers of blocking their application.

In the spa town of Ilkley, river users and residents submitted a 65-page application to turn part of the River Wharfe in the town into a bathing water area last October.