Small businesses in Church Green and South Street, Keighley, are to benefit from a cash injection to boost security.

The 27 businesses on Church Green and 11 in South Street are to split almost £15,000 from the Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund.

Work was carried out on the sites last year to improve security, and the £14,800 will be used to implement additional safeguards.

CCTV systems were installed at Church Green last year and the green's £5,000 share of the money will be used for increased CCTV signs, door grilles, work on Albert's Yard access and general tidying up.

Businesses in South Street are still being consulted about how best they can use their share of approximately £10,000.

Proposals include enhancing shop fronts, better external lighting and a general cleaning up of the area.

Home Office Minister John Denham said: "Small local shops play a vital role in helping to sustain our local communities.

"But in some of our most impoverished areas they are closing because shopkeepers cannot afford proper security."

He added: "This deprives local residents, especially those who are unable to travel, of access to a decent range of goods and services."