Work is under way to provide a more well-rounded visitor experience in Keighley in time for next summer, when thousands of visitors from around the world arrive.

The Tour de France’s Grand Depart will pass through the town on July 6, and Keighley Town Council is looking at ways to attract visiting spectators to the town for as long as possible.

Councillor Peter Corkindale said the local authority is looking at ways of improving the town’s tourist attractions in the coming months, and will try and promote what Keighley has to offer as much as possible.

He added: “We’re hoping the people who come along for the race don’t just stand and watch, but go and look round the area.

“We’ve got the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Cliffe Castle Museum, the police museum and other things to see. We’re looking at ways of improving the visitor experience by the time the tour comes through.”

Coun Corkindale expects the attractions to see a huge boost thanks to the race, even though one of them might face some competition by then. The town council opened the police museum last year in the old station, now Keighley Civic Centre.

News emerged last week another police museum could soon be opening in Bradford’s City Hall as part of a bid to make more use of the huge building.

However, Coun Corkindale, who is chairman of the civic centre committee, is not worried about the potential competition, saying the two attractions might have a similar theme, but would offer a completely different experience.

He said: “Our museum is totally different to the one they are planning to put into City Hall. I think it is going to be a bit more of a static museum where you wander round and look at exhibits.

“Ours is a bit more hands-on – kids can try on uniforms and there are a lot of interactive exhibits. It is just a completely different type of experience.

“We have have a lot of schools that come. We have the forensic area that teaches the difference between what investigative techniques were used then and what are used now.”

Coun Corkindale added: “We’d hope to do things in a joined-up way, working together rather against each other.”