A CHINESE takeaway has reopened with community support after the previous owners were hit by anti-social behaviour.

The Lucky House in Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley, closed after youths regularly hung around outside deterring customers and antagonising staff.

The Ling family, who have lived in Braithwaite for a couple of years, took over the derelict building and transformed it into Ling’s Kitchen.

Keighley MP John Grogan officially opened the newly-named takeaway as part of a fact-finding tour of Braithwaite and Guard House.

He met estate shop owners, chatted with volunteers about housing issues and activities at the Keith Thompson Centre, and had his hair cut at a Braithwaite hair salon.

At Ling’s Kitchen, the family had prepared sample dishes for Mr Grogan and residents.

Mr Grogan said the Lucky House had suffered anti-social behaviour from a small number of young troublemakers which had been effectively dealt with by the police.

He said: “Since the reopening business is going well, the local community have been welcoming and a regular customer base is being built up.

“In my experience Keighley people will give anybody a fair go wherever they come from, particularly if they are working hard and providing a good service.”

A spokesman for the Ling family said people were proving very friendly.

She said: “The area has improved a lot in terms of anti-social behaviour in the past few years and we feel we’re ready to open.

“We’ve had quite a lot of positive feedback from local people so I guess they’re happy with us.”

Mr Grogan, who was elected as Keighley’s MP in June, said he wanted to highlight the many success stories in Braithwaite.

He added: “The non-profit Keith Thompson Centre acts as a great focus for the community. Ling's Kitchen brings a taste of China to the estate and Dana's hairdressing salon has become so successful that it is moving soon into bigger premises in town.

“I was also pleased to meet a number of students at home during their summer vacations studying everything from sports journalism to biomedicine.”

Ward Councillor Adrian Farley (Lab, Keighley West) welcomed the reopening of Ling's Kitchen for the local community.

He said: “The takeaway adds diversity and good food to the local area. I look forward to working with them over the coming years.”