Babies who need special hospital care will be given a boost by passengers riding on a vintage bus to tour Bradford's historic buildings.

Keighley Bus Museum is wheeling out part of its collection to take part in the Heritage Open Days event this weekend.

And anyone hopping aboard its 22-year-old Yorkshire Woollen District 773 double-deck free bus service around the city will be able to donate money to the Lord Mayor of Bradford's appeal for special care baby equipment at hospitals in Bradford and Airedale.

Passengers will be taken on a circular route stopping at City Hall, the Alhambra Theatre, Priestley Centre for the Arts, the Design Exchange in Little Germany, and the cathedral.

Lord Mayor Councillor Tony Miller and his wife Elsie have suffered the loss of premature twin babies.

He said: "Everyone is touched by special baby care and we're asking people to make voluntary contributions to the appeal which has raised £10,000 since it began in May.

"This is just another way of reaching the wider population to raise awareness and money."

The museum's buses - West Yorkshire Road Car numbers 1403, 2508 and 4044, Bradford 82 and a Royal Blue express coach dating back to 1948 - will be displayed on Saturday in Centenary Square during the event, organised by Bradford Council's City Centre Management team.

A 1938 Bristol K5 double decker will also be on show courtesy of Keighley & District Travel.

Other vintage vehicles on display in Centenary Square will include an award-winning gully sweeper, horse-drawn sweeper, and the popular Horses at Work.

Heritage Open Days are co-ordinated nationally by the Civic Trust.

Bradford Council will be opening eight public buildings over the weekend and, on Sunday, hosting two cinema heritage trails round the city's famous film locations.

To book a place on the cinema trails, or for more information, call Bradford 753763.

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