ORGANISERS are hailing the success of an event held in Keighley as part of celebrations for International Women's Day.

The gathering, hosted by Keighley College, aimed to showcase to women and girls the range of roles that are available in traditionally male-dominated industries and fields of work.

Keighley Town Council and the town's Soroptimist club spearheaded the event.

Companies and organisations represented included Yorkshire Water, Keighley Bus Company parent firm Transdev, Incommunities, IT company Cosurica, manufacturer GESIPA, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, Smart Works Leeds and West Yorkshire Police.

Also, there was an interactive plumbing workshop led by Plumb Learning for people to try their hand at the skill.

A spokesperson says: "This free, open-access community event aimed to inform and encourage women and girls to consider working in traditionally male-dominated industries by bringing together representatives from different areas of work, alongside community organisations that support or champion women."

Around 300 people attended, including students from five primary and secondary schools in the area, members of the public and college students.

Councillor Clare Abberton, vice-chair of the town council's events and community action committee, says the event was a huge success.

She adds: "It was splendid, and we were especially pleased with how interested the children and young people were. They were very inquisitive and asked lots of insightful questions.

"We hope that those who attended had a fantastic time and were inspired by the amazing businesses and organisations that took part in the event."

Julia Allen, secretary of Keighley Soroptimist Club, says: "Soroptimist International of Keighley's key purpose is to educate, empower and enable ­– and that is certainly what happened at the event. What was so brilliant was the wide range of age groups in attendance and the buzz of excitement that could be felt at the many different possibilities."

Kevin O’Hare, principal at Keighley College, said the campus was delighted to host the event.

He added: "With help from our friends at the town council and Soroptimist International, we had brilliant engagement from people of all ages – including our local primary schools – as well as fantastic role models from health, engineering, building trades, IT and public service employers.

"It completed a great week of training and events at the college.

"As principal, I am incredibly proud of the inspirational women who lead, learn and achieve remarkable things at – and with – the college."