A major part of Shipley's heritage has been left wide open to the threat of demolition, councillors have claimed.

The future of Windhill's historic Carnegie library has been thrown into doubt by Bradford Council's proposal to auction it off.

Councillors are now seeking talks with officers from the Council to discuss the future of the building.

The two-storey building, on the corner of Leeds Road and Carr Lane, was built in 1905 after Andrew Carnegie, a world famous industrialist and philanthropist, donated £3,000 for a library in Windhill.

Councillor Phillip Thornton said: "My fear is that whoever buys it could demolish it because it's not listed.

"About a year ago, we won a campaign to remove the building from the sale portfolio, but now it appears to be back in there without any previous consultation."

Mike Bell, head of Bradford Council's asset management, said the Carnegie Library had been empty since at least November 2004 and the building had now become surplus to requirements.

He said: "We have consulted with ward councillors on the proposed auction but they have objected and we are now looking into their suggestions for the building."

Coun Vanda Greenwood said: "We don't like the way this is being handled because it has been sneaked back onto the sales list. In fact, the whole thing stinks."

The stone building retains some original features such as a wooden counter and coloured glass windows. It closed in 1985 when Shipley Central Library opened.

Since closing as a library, the building has been leased out to the Irish Folk Music Society and a Pentecostal Church.

Local expert Bob Duckett, of Baildon, said: "The Windhill library is a lovely building inside and ought to be listed."