Parish councillors wrote to North Yorkshire County Council last month to request replacement life belts after it was noticed two of the original three were missing.

NYCC replied saying in its opinion, one life-saving device was enough, but eventually agreed to install another life belt and keep a further device as a spare following complaints from the parish council.

But Coun Colin Heath, who also acts as the village's health and safety officer, still claims the life belts on the bridge aren't up to scratch.
He said: "Lives could be put at risk.

"There hasn't been an incident in the seven years I've been health and safety officer, but if there was, the life belts that are there wouldn't be much help.

"There are now two on the bridge, but one of them is smaller and looks like it has been donated by a well-wisher. One doesn't have a rope attached and the other one has ten yards of rope when it's a 15-yard drop to the river. I can't imagine anyone hauling someone up 15 yards, but what do you do once they're hanging off the life belt?

NYCC area manager Paul Sheppard said: "We initially thought the life belts on the bridge were the responsibility of the Environment Agency.
"We've now checked with out health and safety people and there's no responsibility on the part of the county council to provide life belts.

"There were three there originally but they've either been stolen or thrown in the river by pranksters. We've replaced the ones missing and put one on the bridge. There's also one on site but away from the public, which can be used as a spare."