Supermarket chain Asda wants to open a new superstore in Keighley with the promise of 400 new jobs.

It has made an offer for Peter Black Distribution's Bradford Street site - but the project is dependent on planning approval being granted.

An Asda spokesman said: "We would love to have representation in Keighley, and feel the site in Bradford Street would be ideal for a new superstore.

"The sale of the site to Asda would mean Peter Black Holdings would be able to invest in modernising its Airedale Mill site, thereby helping to safeguard its long-term future in Keighley."

Asda will be seeking to meet councillors to discuss the proposals, with a view to submitting a planning application.

Keighley Area Panel chairman Councillor David Emmott welcomed the news. "It will be very good for Keighley if it goes ahead," he said. "It will mean a lot of new jobs and will give local people more choice, which has to be a good thing. Keighley needs to continue growing like this."

Peter Black Distribution has been based at the 8.5 acre Burlington distribution centre for the last 18 years and employs around 200 people there.

Harry Johnson, managing director of Peter Black Distribution, told workers at the site this week of the proposed development. "We felt we needed to make them aware of what was happening," he said.

Mr Johnson said if the proposal did go ahead it was likely to take up to three years, which would allow time for a re-development strategy to be devised in order to minimise the impact on the Peter Black business and its workforce.