A row has broken out between Keighley Town Council and Bradford Metropolitan Council over the use of Keighley's civic regalia.

Last Friday, despite assurances from Bradford that the town council could have use of the regalia, Keighley Mayor Cllr Martin Leathley, pictured, was denied the opportunity to wear the mayoral chain at the opening of the new Police Station by West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Graham Moore

The Mayor was so outraged at the snub that he instead wore a plain white badge stating his name and title and the words: "I am wearing this plastic badge because Bradford Council have refused me permission to wear Keighley's civic regalia.'

He said: "There were four criteria under which the regalia could be used -- on Remembrance Day, at council meetings, for visiting VIPs and for civic services.

"We have to request it each time we want to use it. It needs authorisation but it seems to be very ad hoc.

"I would have thought that a Chief Constable would be counted as a VIP."

Cllr Leathley said that he had spoken about the regalia to Bradford Council's chief executive Ian Stewart on Thursday. He added: "When we spoke on Thursday he did not make it clear whether we could use it. I told them that they were breaching their own criteria."

He said that Mr Stewart had promised to get back to him. However, by the time he did it had been too late and the Mayor had been forced to attend both the opening of the Police Station and the Britain in Bloom judging at the Woodville Training Centre without the regalia.

Cllr Leathley believes there are a number of people at City Hall, Bradford, who are opposed to Keighley's new council.

He added: "I think that some people do not like the idea that there is a town council in Keighley and they want to make things difficult.

Now the Mayor is demanding the return of the regalia. He said: "What we say and what we are requesting is that they be returned to Keighley Town Council and indeed the people of Keighley.

"We have the support of the deputy Labour leader Cllr Barry Thorne."

Bradford Council's head of democratic services Salman Mather said: "We have been working with the new town council to establish arrangements for the use of the former Keighley Borough Council civic regalia. This involves the temporary removal of the regalia from the display at Cliffe Castle.

"In general this arrangement has worked well but, unfortunately, on this occasion it was not possible to make certain items available. I hope that by continuing to work together we can iron out any problems with arrangements for the use of the regalia."