Detectives have recruited mounted police in their bid to investigate a number of attacks and robberies in a Keighley park.

Yesterday two mounted officers were patrolling Lund Park, where residents have been the victims of a spate of assaults and attempted robbery.

PC Shirley Naughton and PC Dave Reynolds, from the mounted section in Wakefield, patrolled the park throughout the day.

PC Reynolds said: "We're looking for anti-social behaviour, thefts and signs of minor damage.

"Our role is also to show a high-profile police presence and to crack down on any aspects of crime in the area."

PC Naughton said the aim was also to try to give the public some reassurance.

"We try to stop and talk to people. People are attracted to the horses and are more inclined to come up and talk to us rather than officers on foot or in cars," she said.

Keighley Detective Chief Inspector Roger Gasson said the mounted police were an important part of the aim to have a high police profile in the area.

"We hope they will have some impact - they are just one of a number of initiatives we are using to police Lund Park," he said.

Concerns have spiralled about safety in the area and Keighley MP Ann Cryer has voiced her fears about the welfare of people using the park.

There have been a number of incidents involving violence in the park area since the beginning of the year.

A 31-year-old unemployed draughtsman was hit over the head with a baseball bat, kicked and punched by a gang of Asian youths three weeks ago when he refused to hand over cash.

Since December 1999, nine people have been attacked, including three women.

In January there were three attacks in one weekend.

Detectives are not linking all the incidents but are concerned with the level of crime.

l Two men have been charged in connection with an incident alleged to have taken place in the Lund Park area on May 13.

Imran Hussain, 20, of Park Avenue, Knowle Park, denied possessing an eight-and-a-quarter-inch kitchen knife in Kensington Street, when he appeared at Bingley magistrates court on Friday.

His co-defendent, Zefran Zaman, 18, of Victoria Road, Oakworth, pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

They were remanded on bail to appear again on June 20.