MORE than a dozen organisations are uniting to stage a two-day festival of water, road and rail transport in Keighley.

Keighley Transport Festival will take place on Sunday May 24 and Bank Holiday Monday May 25 next year.

It will feature display sites at Stockbridge Wharf, East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley College, Cliffe Castle, Keighley town centre, and at the Ingrow Railway Centre.

Festival co-ordinator is Graham Mitchell, a former chairman of both the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and Keighley Bus Museum Trust.

For several years Mr Mitchell operated his own open top double decker bus on history tours of the Worth Valley and Keighley.

He explained: “The concept of the event came originally from the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, the Canal & River Trust and MP John Grogan, as a means of showcasing the road, rail and water-borne heritage transport of Keighley across the ages.

"Because so many transport organisations and heritage locations will be involved, Mr Grogan has asked me to co-ordinate the various factors.

"A Project Management Hub has already been created, with representatives from Keighley Business Improvement District, Keighley Big Local, Keighley Town Council, the Area Co-ordinator’s Office and Bradford Council’s Tourism Department.

“Despite the fact we're still 13 months away from the date of the festival, all the organisations are committed to the project, which we hope will include a static display of historic buses and trolleybuses which operated passenger services in Keighley over 60 years from 1913 to 1973.

"This display will include the newly-constructed replica 1913 Cedes-Stoll single deck trolleybus, Keighley Corporation No 0, and the cosmetically restored original 1924 Straker Clough double deck trolleybus, Keighley Corporation No 5.

"Both vehicles recently featured in the Keighley News, together with motorbuses which operated in the town in the 1930s, 1950s and 1960s.

“Additionally, there will be transport-themed activities stretching from Stockbridge Wharf to Ingrow Railway Centre, and from Cliffe Castle through the town centre to East Riddlesden Hall.

"These will provide lots of activities for everyone from dedicated enthusiasts to family groups. A frequent free-to-users park and ride bus service will link all sites."

Other organisations which will help stage the festival include Craven Old Wheels Society, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and Keighley Bus Museum Trust.