A CAMPAIGN to reopen a railway line which would provide a direct route from the Bradford district into Lancashire has received another boost.

The proposed restoration of the Skipton to Colne link was among the winning projects in the Great British Transport Competition.

Judges – including surveyors, engineers and transport experts – praised the "fantastic" standard of entries in the contest, organised by the TaxPayers' Alliance.

And in a further lift for the campaign, 90 per cent of people who took part in an online poll supported the restoration plans.

The poll was staged by campaign group the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP), on its Facebook page.

"We asked for people's thoughts on the reopening of the line and were delighted with the response," said a spokesman.

"The poll reached 10,702 people and had 1,395 engagements – where users have voted, commented, liked or shared.

"With this and our success in the Great British Transport Competition, the continued support and belief in the project is most encouraging."

Campaigners have long been pressing for the restoration of the 12-mile Skipton to Colne line, which closed in 1970.

Backers of the scheme include Keighley MP John Grogan.