Campaigners fighting to save the famous Shipley Glen Cable Tramway can now see light at the end of the tunnel, councillors will hear.

But people are being urged to ensure the Victorian tourist attraction's fortunes are kept on track by taking a ride or helping out as volunteers.

The 107-year-old line's fight for survival was first revealed by the Telegraph & Argus in 1999 when boss Mick Leak warned that unless urgent action was taken he would not renew his lease on the Brad-ford Council-owned site when it expired at the end of this month. Mr Leak, who has used his life savings to help keep the tramway open, warned it would need massive capital investment over the next few years to keep it open.

Following meetings with councillors and officers a steering group was set up and the Glen Tramway Preservation Company Ltd has been formed.

A report on the progress is to be given to tomorrow night's meeting of the council's Shipley community area panel.

Company chairman Dave Rogers said it was negotiating with the Council to take on the lease, Mr Leak having agreed to continue until they could.

The company was also on the verge of being granted charitable status to enable it to attract grants from sources such as the National Lottery's heritage fund.

Mr Rogers said he was also liaising with the Saltaire Project Team to ensure the tramway was included in the promotion of Saltaire's newly-acquired status as a World Heritage Site and believed the piece of heritage could help Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Work is also under way to set up a Friends Group, which would help by generating money, providing volunteers and raising the tramway's profile.

Mr Rogers said: "There is now light at the end of the tunnel.

''It's taken a couple of years but working in partnership with other agencies we're now in a position to move forward although to secure its future we still need to attract funding.

"It's an essential part of Shipley and the Bradford district's heritage so to have let it disappear would have been almost criminal.''

Mr Leak said: "I've agreed to the lease extension because I want to see it saved - as Britain's only working Victor-ian cable tramway it's unique. It would be a tragedy if it had to shut.

"What we need now is volunteers and, after visitor numbers fell last year because of foot and mouth, for the public to come back and support us because at the end of the day if people don't use it they will lose it.''

The tramway is open every weekend and on weekdays during the Easter school holiday.