A petition has been launched to force a rethink on plans to widen an 18th Century flood-damaged bridge.

North Yorkshire County Council has already received a 288-name petition to widen Creet's Bridge, at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

The Grade II-listed bridge is 10ft wide and plans have been submitted to widen it to just over 15ft.

But a petition has been launched in the community calling for the bridge to be restored, not widened.

The county council has already decided it will go ahead with widening plans, which are opposed by English Heritage.

The petition campaign was started by 38-year-old Brian Webster who said: "I just felt there was no voice for the other side."

The petition will be sent to the county council and Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry, who has already backed the proposals for widening the bridge.

Currently, Creet's Beck is crossed by a temporary bridge pending the outcome of the wrangle, which has continued since the structure was damaged in floods 16 months ago.

Parish councillor Ernie O'Keefe said 288 names had been secured for a wider crossing in just a few days.

"As far as we are concerned this has gone through the cabinet at North Yorkshire and things are moving ahead by planning for a wider bridge," he said.