A DISPERAL order in one of Bradford's most well-known beauty spots will last until Friday afternoon.

West Yorkshire Police exercised the order - which allows officers to move people on from an area - yesterday to prevent anti-social behaviour in Ilkley.

Officers were called to a fight that broke-out on Wednesday afternoon and fears began to rise about disorder in the town, and by the River Wharfe, as temperatures soaring to just under 30 degrees Celsius.

Read more about that here... 

PC Rahman, police constable for Keighley, said yesterday: "There has been large groups of people fighting.

"People have left masses of rubbish behind.

"Not to mention that COVID-19 is still around whilst people have all been swimming in the river."

The weather is set to be scorching again today, which means people and youngsters off school could be tempted to flock to Ilkley again. 

But the dispersal order was exercised at 4.12pm yesterday and will last for 48 hours.

It means officers will be able to move people on right until Friday afternoon. 

PC Rahman said yesterday on social media website, Twitter: "Currently at Ilkley enforcing a dispersal order that has been exercised to prevent anti-social behaviour.

"We have received several reports and are exercising these powers now.

"The dispersal order has been in place today 4.12pm and will last for 48 hours.

"We will move you along."

He also outlined that several officers stayed on patrol in the area into the evening. 

A member of the public questioned the fairness of the dispersal order in moving everyone on, rather than those just breaking the rules and being anti-social.

They said: "Only issue is, not everyone being dispersed are guilty of anti-social behaviour.

"Some are down there following the rules as the Government set out, only to be moved on anyway."

PC Rahman responded to say he agrees it is unfair, but that the few have ruined it for the many.

He added: "When a dispersal order is in place we must enforce it whilst being fair and treating everyone equally.

"It’s not ideal because the minority have ruined it for the majority."