Proposals for a one-way traffic loop around Keighley town centre have been unveiled by Liberal Democrats.

But a senior Tory politician warns that similar plans have already been studied and rejected by traffic engineers.

The plans were put forward last week to reduce town centre congestion and remove any need for an eastern relief road.

The proposal is the brainchild of local Lib-Dem chairman Roger Beaumont.

His plans would take all traffic around the outskirts of Keighley on existing major roads. Vehicles would travel clockwise along Bradford Road, Worth Way, South Street, North Street and Hard Ings Road.

All roundabouts would be removed, except the one at Victoria Park, and traffic lights would be removed from most junctions.

Vehicles would be able to go into the town centre and back out but not travel through it. The layout could force emergency vehicles to travel the wrong way down one-way streets to get across town.

Buses for areas such as Haworth and Oakworth would have to travel around almost the entire loop.

Mr Beaumont said it would take just six minutes to travel around the entire loop at an average of 25mph.

He said: "It can take 20 minutes to cross town in the rush-hour. If you can go round in six minutes it will make traffic move."

Mr Beaumont said the new layout would stop drivers using roads like Cavendish Street and Lawkholme Lane as through roads.

"It isn't entirely free of problems but getting Keighley traffic free of problems is a pipe dream," he said.

Andrew Mallinson, chairman of Keighley Transport forum and Bradford Council's regeneration chief, said the loop-road idea had already been rejected.

He said: "There's no real advantage. It was felt there would be too many cars using it and it wouldn't speed things up."