Communities connected after towpath work completed

David Skaith, mayor of York & North Yorkshire officially opened the upgraded towpath along with Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire mayor, and Sean McGinley, from the Canal and River Trust

The final section of a historical Yorkshire towpath which links two communities in different counties has been resurfaced and improved.

The two-mile stretch between Kildwick in North Yorkshire and Silsden in West Yorkshire had been described as the "missing link" on the Leeds to Liverpool route.

The Canal and River Trust, which was responsible for the project, said the work meant the path would now directly connect the two places and be easier for people to walk or cycle along.

Sean McGinley, from the trust, said the route, which is more than 200 years old, was a "national treasure" which needed "ongoing care to remain open, navigable, and accessible for all".

Previously, the unsurfaced towpath could be difficult to travel along

About £1.8m was spent on improvements, which included better access for people with mobility difficulties and pushchairs, as well as the addition of new signs and widening of the path itself.

Built as the longest single canal for the passage of boats, the 34-mile (54km) route connects Leeds and Bradford to Skipton and Gargrave.

The charity said it took in "some of the most picturesque and uplifting open countryside along England's canal networks" as well as heritage including the Bingley Five Rise Locks.

The work was carried out in a partnership between Bradford Council, North Yorkshire Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Mr McGinley said: "These improvements not only help to safeguard our rich canal heritage but also make it easier and more appealing for more people to experience the health benefits of spending time by water."

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: "For too long, this vital missing link on the towpath represented a missed opportunity for communities in North and West Yorkshire."

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