A SET of stepping stones across the river in Gargrave may have to completely replaced, heard a meeting of the parish council.

Councillors this week agreed to go out for two sets of quotes, for the removal of the remaining stones to the river bank, and also for their reinstatement and repair.

The stepping stone crossing in the village's Low Green was closed by the council last year when as a result to changes to the weir, several of the stones were washed away. The council decided to leave the crossing closed until this year, after the winter, when the river was likely to be running higher.

Councillors have now decided to go ahead and get quotes for the cost of re-establishing the crossing, which the meeting heard could end up being very expensive.

Council chair, Councillor Stephen Coetzer, said the council had to move quickly because the time was fast approaching when families with children would start visiting the village and using the greens.

Around a third of the original stones across the river remain in Low Green; unlike the stepping stone crossing in the top green which the meeting heard had been constructed differently and when the river was high, the water went over the stones, rather than washing them away.