THE DISTRICT'S steam heritage railway has seen a surge in visitor numbers.

The five-mile Keighley & Worth Valley line last year carried 110,715 passengers, up nearly nine per cent on 2013.

The day the Tour de France arrived in the area – July 6 – 2,294 people used the railway, more than three times the figure for the corresponding Sunday the previous year.

Roger France, marketing and filming liaison officer for the railway, welcomed the increase in passengers.

He said: "The 8.8 per cent annual rise seems to be particularly down to the success of our regular special events such as the recent Santa Trains, the autumn beer & music festival and our winter and autumn steam galas, all of which showed an increase in visitors.

"The Tour de France event gave the figures a boost – although we reduced our fares on the day – and a new event for us, a 'scary' evening Hallowe'en train, also proved a popular draw."

National Trust property East Riddlesden Hall also saw an increase in visitors last year, from 34,740 in 2013 to 36,629.

The Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth said its figures were still being finalised, but that there had been a slight fall in visitors.