A group of cabbies has pledged to keep watch over Keighley in a bid to beat crime on the town's streets.

Three taxi firms have joined forces in a taxi-watch scheme which has been launched this week in the town.

The control rooms of Metro Taxis, Oxford Taxis and Keighley Taxis have been linked directly to the closed circuit television centre (CCTV) scheme in Bradford.

The scheme has been set up by the Keighley Anti-Crime Partnership initiative.

Anti-crime partnership officer Chris Slaven said the Taxi Watch scheme would probably be most effective at night and in the early hours of the morning, when it will be used to spot incidents from drug dealing to violence.

Taxi offices would be able to report the incidents directly to the CCTV headquarters in Bradford where cameras would be focussed on the incident.

"We have a wonderful shop link network during the day in which shopkeepers can report suspicious individuals to other shopkeepers," said Mr Slaven.

"The taxi watch is similar but can continue after 5pm and into the evening.

"We see it as a two-way initiative - it can increase security for taxi drivers, and drivers can also report incidents they spot on the streets.

"They can act as eyes and ears at times when most people are at home in bed."

A spokesman for Metro and Keighley Taxis said Taxi drivers were in a position to spot crime ranging from drug dealing to violence.

Incidents could be reported directly to the control office who would report to the CCTV base in Bradford.