Ambitious plans to convert a former school into a sports and arts facility have received the unanimous support of Keighley Town Council.

The town council has thrown its weight behind the steering group, which has taken up the baton of renovating the former Bront Middle School, and will put the plans in front of Keighley Area Committee.

The council agreed to bring the matter in front of Bradford Council's local decision-making body during public questions.

The added pressure will be made after the building was added to Bradford Council's Asset Management Project.

Councillor Allan Rhodes, chairman of the town council's general purposes committee, said the school had been closed for some five years.

It was only since the interest was taken by organisations within Keighley and by district councillors that it had been transferred over to the Asset Management Project, he said.

Cllr Rhodes added: "We are not sure what is going to happen, but it has been suggested that the playing fields and the building will be retained and some land sold off for domestic development."

Residents have objected on previous occasions to plans to add housing to the area.

Instead a new steering group, set up under the auspices of Oakworth Urban Village, has been set up to redevelop the site.

The group is looking at launching a multi-million pound lottery bid in an attempt to complete the project.

Plans could involve sports, conference and arts facilities. Small businesses could also be accommodated in some of the disused buildings on the site.

Cllr Rhodes, pictured, added: "This is a facility that we should not or must not lose for the area.

"It is going to provide for people from the Worth Valley and the town area."

A number of other groups, including Airedale Primary Care Trust, sportKeighley and Worth Valley Young Farmers, are all party to the talks.

District councillor Peter Hill, chairman of the urban village project, has asked to be kept informed about any possible plans for the site.

He added: "We have looked at ways to be the broker for people using Bront School. I also have a proposal for a child play group and a nursery."

He said the lottery bid might not be completed by the January deadline but that other pots of money would be open in the future.

Another meeting of the steering committee has been planned for Tuesday to discuss the next steps.