It has long been said that one of the ways Keighley can survive and boom as a shopping centre is to have smaller specialist shops, offering great customer care.

Fortunately it has attracted a number of shops of that type and the reputation of the town as a great place to shop has spread far and wide.

It is mainly on the flat, with good public transport links and shops set in architectural gems.

Now with all the signs of a slump in the economy looming large, some of the smaller shops are understandably finding life tough.

Some have moved to different locations where rent is cheaper to save on costs, but others have shut up shop. The number of empty shops which can be seen tell their own story.

If they are closing because it is a bad business then there can be no complaints.

But if it is a solid responsible business operating on ever tighter margins then there is room for calling for some kind of relief to ensure they keep trading. A way must be found to support and advise them before they are washed away by the tidal wave of cheap goods from the bigger outlets - not forgetting the threat from Asda.

No matter what it takes, those with influence must act to prevent Keighley - not forgetting the surrounding areas - from becoming and looking like a ghost town. That is either what they are paid for, or elected for, to take the tiller and steer us safely through stormy waters.