A group dedicated to promoting Bront country has been held up as an example of the way forward by tourism chiefs.

Bradford council is citing the Bront Country Partnership as the way forward to attract tourism to the district

The group, which is made up of members from local businesses and tourist attractions, is being used as a "guiding principle" for Bradford council's new tourism strategy.

The council has compiled the strategy as part of Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Director of marketing and communications Owen Williams said the new strategy would benefit groups like Bront Country Partnership in the future, even if the Capital of Culture bid was not successful.

The council says it will help local groups such as BCP to develop and improve the promotion of the local area.

Mr Williams said: "We want to use Bront Country Partnership as a guiding principle because this is how we want other groups to be.

"In terms of partnership development the local authority's role is to act as a facilitator to enter into public and private partnerships. We want to get to the stage where partnerships are generating revenue and are self sustaining.

"Our aim is to get this ratified as part of the bid submission."

Tourism chiefs have divided the district into five main areas: Bront, Ilkley, Saltaire and City Centre Bradford.

The draft strategy will go before the council's management board and scrutiny committee for consideration.

It will then be passed on to the Executive Committee to make a final decision.

Mr Williams also expressed admiration for the work put in by local transport expert Graham Mitchell and Keighley MP Ann Cryer in promoting the Capital of Culture bid.

"They have really worked hard to promote the Keighley district side of the bid and raise interest in this area," he said.

l Tourists from America and Japan are returning to Haworth following the devastating effects of foot and mouth and September 11.

Tricia Tillotson of Haworth Tourist Information Centre told members of the Bront Country Partnership that there had been a noticeable increase in visitors from the Far East and the USA.

She said: "Japanese visitors are starting to appear again and we have noticed a few Americans as well, so the outlook is very positive."

Matt Stroh of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway says its passenger numbers are 9 per cent up on the same period last year.