English Heritage has pledged to transform Haworth from a day trip haven into an international tourist destination.

Trevor Mitchell, English Heritage’s Yorkshire and Humber planning director, said the village is one of Bradford’s biggest attractions but claims more should be done to market it as a global tourist attraction.

Mr Mitchell said: “At the moment Haworth isn’t really offering itself to an international audience. It is marketing itself to the people of West Yorkshire on an afternoon out. What Haworth needs is to offer something that appeals to the international tourist who has come for the Bronte connection.

“That is why we are saying we want to work with property owners and Bradford Council to see if we can touch things up a bit.”

Mr Mitchell said English Heritage was making Haworth more of a priority than in the past because it was identified as at risk in 2010.

The organisation has agreed to pay 80 per cent of the costs to repair the Parish Church roof, if match funding can be found, and is offering 80 per cent grants to reinstate original features on shop fronts in Main Street.

It has also encouraged The Old School Room, where the famous Bronte sisters taught, to apply for a grant and a decision is expected to be announced within a month.

Mr Mitchell said: “We know the Old School Room was built by Patrick Bronte and that the Bronte women taught there but actually it isn’t open to the public. Thousands of people walk past it every year and don’t really get to appreciate it.

“It looks a bit down on its luck.Hopefully we will be able to work quite closely with the people at the Old School Room to put a good project together, turn the building around and make it a success.”

Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration David Green (Wibsey, Lab) admitted more needs to be done to promote tourism in the district.

He said: “There hasn’t been a clear strategy, not just for Haworth but for tourism in particular, for a number of years.

“Places like Haworth, the council run museums and galleries and even the Keighley Bus Museum can all be pulled together and marketed for the benefit of all.”