Moving the tax office out of Keighley "threatens to undermine the identity of the town", an MP has claimed.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer fears services and future regeneration will suffer if plans to relocate some or all of five tax offices in West Yorkshire and Skipton, with 500 staff being re-deployed to Bradford, gets the go ahead.

Speaking in the Commons, she suggested "consultation has evolved into an exercise to seek to explain, and prepare the ground to implement, a decision that has already been taken."

Consultation ended in March which could see branches of HM revenue and Customs close in Keighley, Huddersfield, Skipton, Shipley and Halifax.

Mrs Cryer, who secured a debate in the Commons on the problems in Keighley, said further centralisation to Bradford would mean difficult train journeys on already overcrowded Airedale and Wharfdale lines.

She said: "A diminution of services damages the pull factor of that town to attract new, wealth-creating business. That in turn can damage the future regeneration and development prospects of the town, thus moving it ever closer to becoming a suburb or a dormitory of Leeds or Bradford. I hate that concept."

Mrs Cryer also fears that with 78 per cent of the employees being women and 49 per cent working part-time, many with children may struggle if the move goes ahead.

Financial secretary to the Treasury John Healey recognised Mrs Cryer's "continued" contribution to the debate since before Christmas when it was announced 200 offices would close nationwide.

He said he wanted to assure her there was "serious and genuine consultation" about the proposals and senior bosses at HMRC had not announced a decision to close the Keighley office.

Mr Healey said the move was a result of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise merging to create HMRC.

The consultation also highlighted similar concerns from work, MPs were told.

Mr Healey said: "The majority focused on the difficulties staff felt they would face as a result of travelling to another office.

"Staff will not be required to move to an office beyond reasonable daily travelling distance. We will consider that carefully."

Speaking after the debate Mrs Cryer said she remained hopeful the office would stay open.

She said: "I know it will not be closed without consideration. It is a duty of a backbencher to raise these local matters. It may be a forlorn hope but I think it can be done."