A "CALL to arms" has been issued by a Keighley councillor to everyone worried about speeding on the town's roads.

Keighley West ward councillor Adrian Farley is hoping to facilitate the setting up of a new residents' group which would mount co-ordinated Speed Watch operations across Keighley.

Cllr Farley set up a small Speed Watch volunteer group in his own ward two years ago, but said his competing work commitments have made it difficult for him to devote the time necessary.

He said members of the group have now expressed interest in getting more volunteers involved to organise Speed Watch all over the town.

Cllr Farley said: "There is significant demand for this. Myself and Keighley West ward councillor Cath Bacon regularly have contacts with residents complaining about speeding.

"This is a call to arms. It's about getting people together to say we're not going to tolerate it anymore.

"Some people might ask 'why are you spending all these resources on speeding?' but they forget this is antisocial behaviour and is a serious crime which can easily lead to a child being knocked down and killed."

He said speeding hotspots in his ward which often attract complaints from the public include Oakworth Road, Queens Road in Ingrow and West Lane.

In order to get a Keighley-wide Speed Watch organisation off the ground, he intends to arrange a meeting at Keighley Police Station, in Royd Ings Avenue, where volunteers can exchange details and a co-ordinator can be appointed to oversee their activities.

He hopes the meeting can take place in early March, though a date and time has still to be confirmed.

He explained a typical Speed Watch operation needs a minimum of two to three volunteers, with one aiming the speed gun at passing vehicles and another taking down the vehicles' details.

Those drivers found to be breaking the speed limit are then sent warning letters from the police.

Cllr Farley said the training to be able to use a speed gun was not time consuming, adding: "All the equipment, including the high visibility jackets and speed cameras, is provided by the police.

"People in the Keighley West group would like to mount Speed Watch operations more often, and if enough residents come forward this would enable them to be active anywhere in Keighley.

"It would empower residents, and put them in charge. It makes sense because they are the people who know where the worst speeding problems are in town."

People interested in being part of a new Speed Watch group to cover all of Keighley can e-mail adrian.farley@bradford.gov.uk for more details.