A damning picture has been painted of Keighley's traffic-choked town centre.

Vehicles often take up to ten minutes just to travel several hundred metres, it is claimed.

Now calls are being made for a major survey in a bid to find solutions to the gridlock.

Graham Mitchell, communications manager of bus company Keighley & District Travel, has presented a report highlighting the problems to the town's newly-formed Economy Group.

It is feared that the whole prosperity of the town centre could plummet into decline if no action is taken.

The bus company has proposed - to police and council highways chiefs - several measures to help improve traffic flows, including a ban on some right-hand turns, changes to timings at selected traffic lights and stricter enforcement of parking and waiting restrictions.

Mr Mitchell said: "The town desperately needs an in-depth traffic survey and some new thinking. If we do not seek and find some answers soon the ability of us all to move across our town will become more and more restricted, with a consequent decline in the prosperity of the central area."

The calls for a survey have won general support, but with some reservations.

Councillor David Emmott, chairman of the Keighley Area Committee, said: "It is well worth doing a survey and I am in favour of anything that could help resolve the situation, but the danger is that you could just move the problem elsewhere."

Keighley councillor Andrew Mallinson said: "I believe that a survey is required to deal with traffic flow in the town centre. However, there are a number of influential schemes yet to be completed.

"The Skipton Road entrance to Keighley for traffic going in and out of the town is to be started and completed this year. The Bingley Relief Road is also due to be completed soon which will have an impact.

"Until work like this is done a survey is pointless. In principle we do need a traffic survey, but we must be aware of the bigger picture."

Inspector Nigel Cawthorne, of Keighley Police, said parking and waiting restrictions were being strictly enforced in the town to help ease traffic movements. But he would welcome a survey.

A Bradford Council transport and planning spokesman said: "There are major developments in the pipeline, including plans to re-site Keighley College.

"A planning application has also been made for an Asda supermarket off Bradford Street.

"It is not feasible to draw up any solutions until we know how these schemes could affect the town's traffic situation."