The Shadow Home Affairs Minister has visited the multi-award-winning Museum of Rail Travel.

MP Malcolm Moss, who has responsibility for tourism, was at the Ingrow museum, which is owned by the volunteer-run Vintage Carriages Trust, last Friday.

Mr Moss said: "I think the museum is excellent.

"I've never been before and it appears to be very unique and extremely well run.

"The aim of my visit is to see a small privately owned museum and find out how they're coping and what problems they have in terms of finances.

"This is linked particularly with the heritage lottery fund because we are formulating the Conservative policy for this and feedback is very important.

"The lottery itself has changed.

"Initially, it was set up to help the arts and sport, but over time this Government has diverted it away from these things and into issues and areas that were originally said to be off limits for the lottery.

"There is a fear that areas that have done well out of the lottery -- like museums and heritage -- are gradually being cut.

"This means that facilities like this museum come under financial pressure."

Mr Moss went on to discuss funding and problems facing the museum with curator Jackie Cope.

She said: "We wish to discuss concerns about the effects government legislation is having on tourism in Keighley. Hopefully, something positive can come out of the visit."

Mr Moss was accompanied by Karl Poulsen, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Keighley.

Mr Poulsen said: "Primarily, the museum brings a lot of people into Keighley but it is an area that potentially has some issues in terms of heritage lottery funding.

"We also wanted to touch base with the volunteers who run this institution."

Railway carriages provided by the museum have been used in more than 50 film and TV productions, including North and South, currently being screened on BBC1.