Keighley's historic Cliffe Castle Museum has gone high-tech to help disabled visitors.

A new "virtual tour" is in operation on the ground floor using a computer screen and mouse.

Information is provided for a variety of users in audio, text and British Sign Language.

A large plasma screen allows schools and other groups of people to access the information.

Until now displays on the upper floor of the museum have only been accessible by stairs.

The new Keighley Stories gallery, due to open this month, is on the upper floor. Similar virtual tours are on offer at Bolling Hall, in Bradford, Bradford Industrial Museum and Ilkley Manor House.

The tours have been devised by Bradford Council's Disability Discrimination Act and facilities management teams.

The tour is via a computer kiosk on the ground floor of Cliffe Castle, with an adjustable table and chair.

The visitors can view galleries, "move" from room to room and open up further information on each exhibit. Access to the ground floor areas of the museums has been improved and there are new toilet facilities and external parking bays.

Dale Smith, the council's deputy leader, said the tour opened up museums for everyone to enjoy.

He said: "We have so many great exhibitions and this allows even more residents and visitors to enjoy them.

"Families or groups of people can all share the experience of the museum together."