A KEIGHLEY charity is heading up an initiative to help takeaway outlets across the district serve-up healthier options.

Keighley Healthy Living, based in Scott Street, has been commissioned to lead on the Living Well Takeaways programme.

The three-year scheme is working with premises owners and staff to improve the offering to customers, and potentially provide free training to employees.

A small number of takeaway outlets have already taken part in the project, which will soon be rolled out on a wider scale.

The venture was spotlighted during a meeting of Bradford Council’s health scrutiny committee, where members were given an update on the Bradford Good Food Strategy.

Councillors heard that part of the strategy involves work with takeaway restaurants to pilot healthier menus, including smaller portions and food that may be grilled instead of fried.

But members argued that encouraging people to eat healthier diets was made more difficult by the number of fast-food outlets in the district.

Tim Howells, head of public health, said: "More-deprived communities seem to be swamped with fast-food takeaways.

"We're doing work with takeaway outlets but a big part of changing things will be working with schools, so children are able to make informed decisions on what are healthy and unhealthy options."

Keighley West councillor Paul Godwin pointed out that foods deemed unhealthy were often very popular.

Rose Dunlop, deputy director of public health, said: "We want people to have a better balance.

"We work with takeaway businesses, but a lot don’t want to stop selling sugary drinks. They don’t want to be known as 'the place that does small portions' or 'the place that grills instead of frying'."

She said if more people chose healthy options, demand would change, which would lead to a shift in the type of takeaways offered.

Officers were asked whether the council’s planning system could be used to combat the proliferation of takeaway premises.

Mrs Dunlop said Bradford introduced a policy in 2014 preventing takeaway outlets from opening within 400 metres of schools, or parks or public spaces that would be used by children, unless in a city, town or village centre.

But it didn't give the council the power to shut down existing premises.

She added: "It did help, but by then the horse had bolted.

"We've looked to see whether we could review planning for a takeaway restaurant if it changed hands, but that can’t be done."