A COUNCILLOR has dismissed speculation that a cyclist who suffered fatal injuries in a woodland beauty spot died because of a feud.

Residents of the village of Midgley, near Flockton, have been demanding police and council action over off-road cyclists damaging nearby Coxley Wood for the past four months.

The recent death of 36-year-old Mirfield man David Burns after a fall from his bike in the wood has led police to investigate whether it may be linked to a feud between bikers and residents.

Market trader Mr Burns, of Priory Way, died more than a fortnight after falling from his mountain bike on February 13 after it struck branches laid across a cycle track.

But Clr June Drysdale, whose Wakefield Council ward covers Coxley Wood, played down the idea that they had been deliberately placed to cause harm.

She said : "We are talking about middle-aged, law-abiding people here. All they want is to feel safe in this beautiful woodland. I do not believe they would go to such extremes.

"A lot of people are speculating at the moment, but we can not even be sure yet that the injury he suffered from the fall led to his death."

The Tory councillor organised a public meeting in Netherton, near Wakefield, in November after residents worried about safety and damage caused by off-road cyclists contacted her.

She added: "People were concerned at the damage - which they saw as vandalism. They were angry because the police were not at the meeting and they wanted to know what was being done about it.

"Some said the damage was so bad it had caused a stream running through the village to stop flowing because of ramps motorcyclists had built."

On Sunday, police returned to the spot where Mr Burns fell from his bike in a bid to find out more about the incident.

Det Supt Paul Taylor, who is leading the investigation, said: "It's not up to me to speculate how these branches got across there. We are not in the business of blaming at this stage. We just want to find out the circumstances."

Mr Burns had been cycling from Stocksmoor Road along a bridleway at 11.30am when he fell from his bike.

He remounted and continued his journey, but the next day went to hospital.

A week later he returned to hospital because he was feeling unwell. He died in Leeds General Infirmary on March 4.

A post-mortem has been held, but tests are continuing to find whether his death was directly connected to the fall.

Anyone with information should phone Wakefield police on 01924 293259 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.