ROSS PARRY SYNDICATION:

Hit soap Emmerdale has come under fire for trampling over a highly-protected landmark during filming.

Outraged members of the local environmental group, Friends of Ilkley Moor, say production vehicles and heavy filming equipment damaged the Cow and Calf Rocks, a Site of Specific Scientific Interest in Ilkley, West Yorks., by churning up the ground and leaving tyre tracks.

Owen Wells, chairman of the group, says research is being carried out on the 4,000-year-old precious carved rocks to check for potential damage, which he said would be "absolutely devastating".

He said: "They were unlucky because the bad weather meant the ground was very soft, but they could have used lighter vehicles to make sure damage was kept to a minimum.

"A track that is used perhaps once or twice a year and was in good condition is damaged."

A spokesman for Emmerdale said: "We are already in full conversation with the Council and reinstatement work has already taken place, this work will continue when the cold temperatures rise to enable further ground work to be done."