A Victorian street hidden beneath a town could be opened up to the public.

The maze of former shops and stables, last used in the 1890s, is below the Royal Arcade, in Keighley. Owners of the East Parade site are investigating whether the street – originally at ground level – could be restored.

Ideas include creating a visitor attraction or converting the old shop units for use by craftspeople and specialist traders.

The Royal Arcade, now a flourishing two-storey complex of specialist shops and flats, was constructed on top of the street.

Builders found the street in 2002 when they smashed through while converting the arcade into shops and flats.

They discovered wooden shopfronts and stable pens in place, as well as doors, signs and fittings from some of the shops.

The then-owners Frank Brook and Mark Holroyd were unable to allow people into the street due to health and safety concerns, and could not secure funding to create a permanent visitor attraction.

Mr Holroyd and his family last year bought out Mr Brook, and have since begun developing the Royal Arcade through an internet presence and extra events.

These include a fashion show on Thursday, May 30, involving arcade businesses Blue Ginger, Re-Dress and MCK Designs.

Mr Holroyd said his son Nick was taking the lead in plans to develop the underground street, which has space for up to eight units. He said: “We’ve looked at opening it up with craft shops. It will be a working environment - shops that would fit in with what it used to be. We'll utilise what’s there.”

Mr Holroyd said his son Nicholas had enlisted an architect and structural engineer to look into the feasibility of restoring the street.

He added: “We’d be very restricted for what we could do. It’s mainly on safety and a fire assessment. If we can get these things sorted then we definitely will develop it.”